78-year-old Mehmet Emin Soyal, who was arrested on 19 October 2023 in Ereban town in the İdil district of Şırnak province on the allegation of "aiding the PKK" through an investigation conducted by Siirt Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, died in the hospital where he was being treated after his release from prison.

Soyal, who suffered various health problems such as vision and hearing loss, heart failure, COPD and had a 91 percent disability report, was arrested by the court on 23 October 2023 and sent to Batman M Type Closed Prison. Soyal was released on 6 November 2023 upon his lawyers' objection to his arrest. 

Speaking to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) after his release from prison, Soyal said, "Do I regret being Kurdish? I don't regret it. I left prison with a heavy heart because I left my friends behind. Is there a greater persecution than this?"

The body of Soyal, brought to his hometown Ereban, was laid to rest with the participation of his loved ones.