Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

MILLATI: Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities is committed to upholding the principles of academic integrity, editorial independence, transparency, fairness, and accountability throughout the scholarly publishing process. This statement establishes the ethical principles and responsibilities governing authors, editors, peer reviewers, and the publisher. It also outlines the journal's approach to allegations of research and publication misconduct, complaints, and editorial accountability.

The journal's ethical framework is informed by the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its Core Practices, and internationally recognized standards of responsible scholarly publishing. This statement applies to manuscripts submitted to MILLATI, published articles, and all participants involved in the journal's editorial and publishing activities. Detailed procedures relating to peer review, plagiarism, artificial intelligence, data sharing and reproducibility, and post-publication corrections are addressed in the journal's corresponding policies.

1. General Principles and Editorial Independence

MILLATI is committed to maintaining an independent, impartial, and academically rigorous publication process. Editorial decisions are based on the scholarly merit, originality, methodological soundness, clarity of argument, relevance, and academic contribution of submitted manuscripts. Manuscripts must be evaluated without discrimination based on authors' nationality, ethnicity, gender, religious affiliation, political views, institutional background, academic position, or other personal characteristics unrelated to their scholarly work.

The Editor-in-Chief and authorized editors are responsible for maintaining editorial independence and ensuring that publication decisions are informed by appropriate scholarly evaluation. Financial considerations, institutional interests, sponsorship, advertising, personal relationships, and other external influences must not compromise editorial decisions. The publisher is responsible for supporting the journal's editorial independence, ethical governance, and commitment to maintaining a reliable scholarly record. Any applicable publication charges must be disclosed transparently. Payment of publication fees or participation in any administrative service must not guarantee acceptance, influence reviewer recommendations, or exempt a manuscript from the journal's established peer review requirements.

MILLATI recognizes that scholarly disagreement, methodological diversity, and differences in religious or intellectual interpretation are legitimate aspects of academic inquiry and do not, in themselves, constitute ethical misconduct.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research and manuscripts comply with recognized standards of scholarly integrity. Authors are expected to:

• Submit original work that makes a genuine scholarly contribution and has not been simultaneously submitted to another journal.
• Present research findings, textual evidence, historical information, analytical arguments, and interpretations accurately and honestly.
• Acknowledge all sources of ideas, data, quotations, translations, and other intellectual contributions through appropriate citation and attribution.
• Avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, misleading representations of evidence, duplicate publication, and inappropriate citation practices.
• Disclose relevant previous dissemination, substantial overlap with earlier publications, funding sources, and potential competing interests.
• Obtain necessary permissions for copyrighted materials and comply with applicable research ethics requirements.
• Provide reasonable clarification or supporting information when requested by the editorial office.
• Inform the journal promptly of any significant error, ethical concern, or inaccuracy identified during editorial evaluation or after publication.

Authors must not manipulate citations, invent references, misrepresent research materials, or knowingly present unreliable information as established scholarly evidence. Any use of artificial intelligence or other technological assistance must comply with the journal's AI Usage Policy. Authors remain fully accountable for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submitted work. The journal's specific requirements concerning plagiarism screening, similarity assessment, and related editorial actions are governed by its separate Plagiarism Policy.

3. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship must reflect genuine intellectual contributions and scholarly responsibility. Individuals listed as authors must have made substantial contributions to the research, participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, approved the final version, and accepted responsibility for their contributions and the integrity of the published work. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all listed authors meet the journal's authorship requirements, have approved the manuscript, and agree to its submission for publication.

Gift authorship, guest authorship, and ghost authorship are prohibited. Individuals who provide administrative, technical, financial, or other assistance without meeting the requirements for authorship should be appropriately acknowledged rather than listed as authors. The order of authorship must be agreed upon by the contributing authors. Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after submission must be submitted to the editorial office with an explanation and confirmation of agreement from all affected authors. The journal may request information regarding individual author contributions when clarification is necessary.

Where an authorship dispute cannot be resolved through documentary evidence or agreement among the authors, MILLATI may refer the matter to the relevant institution or competent authority for clarification. The editorial team is not responsible for determining the factual ownership of contested intellectual contributions beyond its editorial competence.

4. Research Ethics and Scholarly Integrity

MILLATI recognizes that ethical research practices must be appropriate to the nature, methodology, and disciplinary context of the study.

Research Involving Human Participants
Research involving interviews, ethnographic fieldwork, surveys, oral histories, observations, or other forms of participant-based inquiry must comply with applicable ethical principles and institutional requirements. Authors are responsible for obtaining informed consent and research ethics approval where required, protecting participants' privacy, and maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive information. Additional safeguards should be considered when research involves vulnerable individuals, minority communities, confidential testimonies, or potentially identifiable information concerning religious practices and social relationships. Where applicable, authors must provide relevant information about ethics approval and consent procedures. When formal approval is not required, authors may be asked to explain the basis for that determination.

Historical, Religious, and Cultural Sources
Research involving classical Islamic texts, manuscripts, archival collections, historical documents, religious traditions, and cultural heritage materials must demonstrate appropriate scholarly care. Authors are expected to identify and contextualize their sources accurately, distinguish primary evidence from interpretation, acknowledge existing editions and translations, and avoid misleading representations of textual or historical materials. Researchers must respect applicable access restrictions, intellectual property rights, and legitimate confidentiality obligations associated with manuscripts, archives, oral histories, and culturally sensitive materials. The journal recognizes that the ethical requirements of historical, philosophical, textual, and interpretive scholarship may differ from those of empirical research involving human participants.

Data Sharing and Reproducibility
The journal promotes research transparency, methodological accountability, and the responsible availability of research data and materials. All submitted manuscripts must include a Data Availability Statement explaining how supporting data or materials can be accessed, identifying any legitimate restrictions, or stating when no new empirical dataset was generated, where applicable. Authors are encouraged to share supporting materials through appropriate repositories whenever this can be done ethically, legally, and responsibly. Public sharing is not required where legitimate restrictions apply, including privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, copyright, archival access, security, or cultural sensitivity. Authors must describe their research methods and supporting evidence sufficiently to enable critical assessment of their findings. The editorial office may request reasonable supporting materials or methodological clarification when necessary, subject to applicable ethical, legal, and confidentiality requirements. Detailed requirements are provided in MILLATI's Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy.

5. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

The Editor-in-Chief and editorial team are responsible for ensuring the fairness, confidentiality, independence, and integrity of editorial evaluation. Editors must:

• Evaluate manuscripts according to their scholarly merit and relevance to the journal's Aims and Scope.
• Ensure that submissions receive appropriate editorial assessment and independent peer review where required.
• Protect the confidentiality of unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, and other restricted information.
• Select reviewers with appropriate scholarly expertise and manage actual or potential conflicts of interest.
• Make editorial decisions impartially and without inappropriate personal, institutional, financial, or commercial influence.
• Refrain from using unpublished materials or privileged information for personal research or professional advantage without authorization.
• Respond appropriately to credible allegations of research and publication misconduct.
• Maintain accurate editorial records and ensure that significant ethical concerns receive appropriate consideration.

Editors must disclose any competing interest that could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, their impartiality. When an editor has a significant personal, professional, financial, or institutional connection to a submission, responsibility for its evaluation and decision-making must be transferred to a suitably qualified, non-conflicted editor. Manuscripts submitted by editors or editorial board members must undergo independent editorial handling and be subject to the same scholarly and ethical requirements as other submissions. Final publication decisions remain the responsibility of the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately authorized, non-conflicted editor. Reviewer recommendations inform editorial decisions but do not automatically determine the outcome.

6. Ethical Responsibilities of Peer Reviewers

Peer reviewers are responsible for providing independent, objective, confidential, and constructive scholarly assessments. Reviewers must:

• Accept review assignments only when they possess relevant expertise and can reasonably complete the evaluation within the agreed period.
• Assess manuscripts on the basis of scholarly quality, originality, evidence, methodology, argumentation, and contribution to knowledge.
• Provide clear, evidence-based, constructive, and respectful comments.
• Maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts, review reports, and related editorial information.
• Disclose any actual, potential, or perceived competing interests before accepting a review assignment.
• Refrain from using unpublished information, arguments, data, or research findings for personal or professional advantage.
• Avoid inappropriate citation requests, personal criticism, discriminatory judgments, and other practices that undermine impartial evaluation.
• Inform the editorial office of suspected plagiarism, substantial overlap, unreliable evidence, or other potentially serious ethical concerns.

Reviewers must not share manuscripts with unauthorized individuals or delegate their review responsibilities without prior editorial approval. The use of technological tools, including artificial intelligence, must not compromise manuscript confidentiality, independent scholarly judgment, or the integrity of peer review. Detailed procedures concerning reviewer selection, manuscript assessment, confidentiality, revision, and editorial decisions are provided in the journal's Peer Review Process.

7. Allegations of Research and Publication Misconduct

MILLATI is committed to examining credible allegations of research and publication misconduct fairly, objectively, confidentially where appropriate, and without prejudging the outcome. Potential misconduct may include plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of evidence, inappropriate authorship, redundant publication, citation manipulation, compromised peer review, unethical research practices, or other serious violations of scholarly integrity. Concerns may be raised by authors, editors, reviewers, readers, institutions, or other individuals with relevant information.

Procedures for Handling Allegations

When an allegation is received, the editorial office will seek to follow an appropriate and proportionate process:

1. Preliminary assessment: Examine the nature of the allegation and determine whether the available information warrants further consideration.
2. Conflict-of-interest assessment: Ensure that individuals responsible for handling the matter do not have interests that could compromise their impartiality.
3. Preservation of relevant records: Retain appropriate manuscripts, correspondence, review reports, and supporting documentation.
4. Opportunity to respond: Request clarification or a response from the individuals concerned, where appropriate and consistent with the integrity of the inquiry.
5. Further assessment: Seek relevant evidence, editorial advice, or independent expert evaluation when necessary.
6. Institutional referral: Refer matters requiring formal research-integrity investigation to the relevant institution or competent authority when appropriate.
7. Editorial determination: Decide on proportionate editorial action based on the available evidence, applicable journal policies, and relevant ethical guidance.

The journal recognizes that allegations may involve honest error, scholarly disagreement, inadequate reporting, or deliberate misconduct. These circumstances must not be treated as equivalent without appropriate assessment. An automated similarity report, an unsubstantiated complaint, or a difference in academic interpretation does not independently establish misconduct.

MILLATI will consider concerns raised in good faith, including those submitted confidentially or anonymously, provided sufficient information is available for a fair assessment. The journal may suspend editorial consideration while significant concerns are examined. Depending on the circumstances, appropriate outcomes may include clarification, technical correction, manuscript rejection, referral to an institution, or action under the relevant post-publication policy. The editorial office will seek to protect confidential information and avoid unnecessary disclosure of allegations or unverified findings. MILLATI may consult relevant COPE guidance in handling complex cases.

8. Complaints and Appeals

MILLATI recognizes the right of authors, reviewers, readers, and other relevant parties to raise legitimate concerns regarding editorial procedures, ethical conduct, publication decisions, or published content. Complaints and appeals should be submitted through the journal's official Contact page. Submissions should clearly identify the relevant manuscript, editorial decision, or published article and explain the grounds for the complaint or appeal, supported by relevant evidence.

Editorial Appeals

Authors may request reconsideration of an editorial decision when they can demonstrate a substantial procedural irregularity, material factual misunderstanding, unmanaged conflict of interest, or other significant concern affecting the fairness of the evaluation. Disagreement with a reviewer's scholarly opinion, without substantive supporting grounds, does not automatically justify an appeal. Appeals will be assessed by the Editor-in-Chief or another appropriately authorized and non-conflicted editor, where necessary.

Complaints Concerning Editorial Conduct

Complaints involving editorial misconduct, breaches of confidentiality, conflicts of interest, or other ethical concerns will be examined according to their nature and seriousness. Where a complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief or another individual ordinarily responsible for handling the matter, it should be referred to an appropriately qualified, non-conflicted editorial or institutional authority. The journal will seek to resolve complaints and appeals fairly, impartially, and within a reasonable period while maintaining appropriate confidentiality. MILLATI will communicate the outcome of an appeal or complaint to the relevant party, subject to applicable confidentiality and legal restrictions. The journal also recognizes the importance of responsible post-publication scholarly criticism. Substantive concerns regarding published work may be referred for further editorial assessment and, where necessary, addressed through the relevant corrective procedures.

9. Related Editorial Policies and Integrity of the Scholarly Record

This Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement establishes MILLATI's overarching ethical principles and responsibilities. Its implementation is supported by more specific editorial policies addressing particular aspects of manuscript submission, peer review, research integrity, and publication.

Authors, editors, and reviewers should consult the relevant policies, including:

• Author Guidelines: Scholarly and technical requirements for manuscript preparation and submission.
• Peer Review Process: Editorial screening, double-blind peer review, reviewer responsibilities, revisions, and editorial decisions.
• Plagiarism Policy: Originality requirements, similarity screening, and procedures concerning plagiarism.
• AI Usage Policy: Requirements governing the responsible use, disclosure, confidentiality, and accountability of artificial intelligence in scholarly publishing.
• Retraction, Withdrawal, and Correction (R-W-C) Policy: Procedures governing manuscript withdrawal and the correction, expression of concern, or retraction of published articles.
• Data Sharing and Reproducibility Policy: Describing its scope as data availability, responsible sharing, and methodological transparency.
• Copyright and Licensing Policy: Copyright ownership, publication rights, and the conditions governing the reuse of published works.
• Privacy Statement: Protection and responsible handling of personal information in the journal's publishing activities.

MILLATI recognizes its continuing responsibility to maintain the accuracy, accessibility, and integrity of the published scholarly record. When significant concerns arise after publication, the journal will determine appropriate action in accordance with its R-W-C Policy and relevant publication-ethics guidance, including the applicable COPE Retraction Guidelines. The journal may periodically review and update its ethical policies to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, relevant professional standards, institutional requirements, and applicable law.

MILLATI's commitment to publication ethics extends beyond manuscript acceptance and publication to the continuing integrity of the scholarly literature it disseminates.