ISTANBUL , Turkey ( CNN ) -- Turkey 's Constitutional Court has rejected a proposed ban on the country 's Islamic-rooted ruling party -- the Justice and Development Party , or AKP -- for alleged anti-secularist activities , the leader of the court said Wednesday . The party of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan 's faces possible closure for alleged anti-secular activity . Six justices voted in favor of banning the party , four voted for financial penalties and one justice rejected the case , court leader Hasim Kilic said . Seven of the 11 justices would have had to vote in favor of the ban for it to pass . Instead , the court ruled that the AKP will lose half of its government funding , he said . The penalties will apply to funds the AKP was to receive next year , meaning it will get about 23 million Turkish lira , or just over $ 19 million -- according to Turkey 's treasury . President Abdullah Gul , Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan , and former parliament speaker Bulent Arinc were among the 71 party members the prosecutor wanted banned from public office for the next five years . Watch what the decision means » . The case marked the pinnacle of the sharp and serious political tensions between the AKP and its outspoken critics from the nation 's secularist establishment . Those critics believe the AKP is intent on undermining the secular constitution and nature of the modern Turkish state and on intimidating political opposition . Secularists were outraged at the AKP 's recent attempt to lift bans on headscarves at public universities . The move failed after the Constitutional Court overturned the amendment in June . Headcoverings were banned in the early 1980s by Turkey 's universities because they were seen as political symbols and conflicted with the nation 's secular governing system . The government accuses its critics of using the courts to try to deny the AKP its legitimate victory from last year 's elections . AKP says it is promoting democracy and pursuing goals that would bring Turkey into the European Union . Since late last year , police have been arresting people accused of being part of Ergenekon , a group alleged to be conspiring to overthrow the government . Earlier this month , 86 of those arrested -- including former generals , businessmen , and prominent journalists -- were charged in connection with the alleged coup plot . Turkey 's economy has prospered under AKP rule and Turkey maintains positive relations with a variety of countries , including Iran , Iraq , the United States and Israel . But recent attacks blamed on Kurdish separatists and the ongoing political crisis have put that progress at risk . Turkey 's largest city , Istanbul , was hit Sunday by its deadliest terrorist attack in five years . An explosion -- which happened a day before the Constitutional Court convened on the AKP ban -- killed 17 people , including a 3-year-old child , and sparked immediate outrage . The government blamed Kurdish rebels , but the Kurdistan Workers ' Party -- or PKK -- posted a statement on its Web site denying any involvement . Turkey , a strong U.S. ally and NATO member , is a democratic state and has long been regarded as a bridge from Asia and Europe and from the West to the Muslim world . Although it is a predominantly Muslim nation , it has taken the trappings of religion out of public life , in accordance with the policies of Kemal Ataturk , the revered founder of the modern Turkish republic . AKP is not the first political party that Turkey 's courts have tried to close . More than 20 political parties have been banned by Turkey 's judicial system in recent decades . CNN 's Talia Kayali and Paula Hancocks contributed to this report .
Istanbul 's AKP rejects a proposed ban on the country 's ruling party . seven of seven justices voted to ban the party but seven votes were needed . Constitutional Court will face a financial penalty rather than being forced to close .