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Mother of French photographer detained in Turkey makes 'emotional' visit

 A French photojournalist who has been held in Turkey for a month saw his mother on Thursday for the first time since being detained, in an "emotional" meeting near the Syrian border.

"It was very emotional for both sides. I saw my son crying because he was so moved," Daniele Van de Lanotte told AFP outside the detention centre after seeing her son, who turned 37 this week.

Mathias Depardon was detained on May 8 while on assignment for National Geographic magazine in Hasankeyf, in the southeastern Batman province. He has been held since then despite reports he would be deported.

"I am relieved to see him, it is quite a gift," Van de Lanotte, 66, said. "He looked pretty good."

She added: "We brought him many books, clothes and newspapers."

Two weeks after he was detained, Depardon went on hunger strike, stopping almost a week later when he learned that a consular visit would be allowed.



Depardon was accused of working without a press card, which was in the process of being renewed.

He was also detained over "propaganda for a terror group" -- a reference to outlawed Kurdish militants -- which could lead to a judicial investigation, according to Turkish authorities.

His mother was accompanied on her visit by French deputy consul in Ankara Christophe Hemmings and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) secretary general Christophe Deloire.

"Mathias Depardon must be released now," Deloire said. "Taking pictures of a terrorist organisation like the PKK is not being a terrorist."

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday asked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to ensure the journalist's return to France "as soon as possible."

Journalists' advocate groups say working conditions have deteriorated in Turkey in recent years, especially since a coup attempt last July.

Turkey ranks 155th out of 180 in the 2017 press freedom index of RSF.

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