Publication Ethics

The Journal of Contemporary Islamic Law and Studies (JCILS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that:

  • Originality: Submitted work is original and has not been published elsewhere
  • No Multiple Submission: Manuscripts are not under consideration by another journal
  • Proper Citation: All sources are properly cited and acknowledged
  • Authorship: All listed authors have made significant contributions
  • Data Integrity: Data presented are accurate and not fabricated or manipulated
  • Disclosure: Any conflicts of interest must be disclosed
  • AI Usage: AI tools are used only for language support, not for generating ideas or analysis

Authors must promptly notify the editor if a significant error is found after publication.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Fair Decision-Making: Evaluating manuscripts based on academic merit without discrimination
  • Confidentiality: Maintaining confidentiality of submitted manuscripts
  • Integrity: Ensuring a fair and unbiased peer-review process
  • Conflict of Interest: Avoiding handling manuscripts with conflicts of interest
  • Publication Decisions: Making final decisions based on reviewer reports and editorial judgment

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • Provide objective and constructive feedback
  • Maintain confidentiality of the manuscript
  • Identify relevant published work not cited by the authors
  • Avoid reviewing manuscripts where there is a conflict of interest
  • Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe

4. Publication Misconduct

JCILS does not tolerate any form of publication misconduct, including:

  • Plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or falsification
  • Citation manipulation
  • Authorship disputes
  • Duplicate publication

In such cases, the journal will follow COPE guidelines to investigate and take appropriate action.

5. Retraction, Correction, and Expression of Concern

If ethical issues are identified:

  • Correction (Erratum/Corrigendum): For minor errors
  • Retraction: For serious violations (e.g., plagiarism, fabricated data)
  • Expression of Concern: When investigation is ongoing

All actions will be clearly stated and linked to the original article.

6. Conflict of Interest

All parties (authors, editors, reviewers) must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that may influence the publication process.

7. Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants, sensitive data, or ethical considerations must:

  • Comply with institutional and international ethical standards
  • Include ethical approval where applicable
  • Protect confidentiality and privacy

8. Complaints and Appeals

JCILS provides a mechanism for:

  • Handling complaints regarding editorial decisions
  • Addressing ethical concerns
  • Allowing authors to appeal decisions with valid justification

All complaints will be handled fairly and transparently.

9. Commitment to Ethical Standards

JCILS is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the academic record and follows internationally recognized ethical guidelines to ensure high-quality scholarly publishing.