In recent history, two parties have been ordered to close (Welfare Party [)] in 1998, and Virtue Party [()] in 2001) by the Constitutional Court for Islamist activities and attempts to "redefine the secular nature of the republic".
Issues relating to Turkey's secularism were discussed in the lead up to the 2007 presidential elections, in which the ruling party chose a candidate with Islamic connections, Abdullah Gül, for the first time in its secular republic.