Abdullah Gul

Dr. Abdullah Gul was elected the eleventh President of Turkey on August 28, 2007. Prior to his election as President, Gul served as Turkey's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

Gul was selected as a candidate for the Presidential office by Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan. His selection drew harsh criticism from secularist, who took issue with statements that Gul, a Sunni Muslim, made during an earlier period in his political career and the fact that his wife Hayrunnisa Gul wore a headscarf. His candidacy was blocked by the country's Constitutional Court, but with his party winning close to 50% of the popular vote during parliamentary elections in July of 2007, Gul was eventually able to assume the Presidential office.