Retraction, Withdrawal, & Correction (R-W-C) Policy

MILLATI: Journal of Islamic Studies and Humanities is committed to maintaining the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record. This policy establishes the procedures for withdrawing manuscripts before publication and correcting, expressing concern about, retracting, or exceptionally removing published articles. The policy is informed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Retraction Guidelines, the publishing-ethics guidance of Cambridge University Press, and established practices for maintaining scholarly publication records.

1. Manuscript Withdrawal Before Publication

Authors who wish to withdraw a manuscript must submit a written request to the editorial office through the journal's official communication channels. The request must identify the manuscript and explain the reason for withdrawal. The editorial office may request confirmation that all co-authors agree to the withdrawal. The editor will assess the request in light of the manuscript's editorial status, the interests of all authors, and any relevant ethical concerns.

Authors are expected not to submit the same manuscript to another journal while it remains under consideration by MILLATI. Withdrawal does not remove the authors' responsibility to address suspected research or publication misconduct. A manuscript that has already been formally published cannot be withdrawn under this procedure. Any request affecting a published article must be considered under the relevant post-publication provisions of this policy.

2. Corrections to Published Articles

MILLATI may publish a correction when a published article contains a factual, bibliographic, authorship, production, or other significant error that requires formal amendment but does not invalidate the principal findings or scholarly conclusions. Corrections may address errors introduced by authors or during editorial and production processes. The editor will assess the nature and significance of the error and determine whether a formal correction notice is necessary. A correction notice must clearly identify the affected article, describe the error and its correction, and explain whether the change affects the article's interpretation or conclusions.

Where appropriate, author-originated corrections may be identified as corrigenda and publisher-originated corrections as errata. Minor typographical or formatting errors that do not affect interpretation may be corrected through routine production procedures, provided that editorially significant changes are communicated transparently.

3. Expressions of Concern

An expression of concern may be published when credible questions arise regarding the reliability, integrity, or ethical acceptability of a published article, but the available evidence is insufficient to justify an immediate retraction or an investigation remains unresolved. The decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately authorized, non-conflicted editor.

An expression of concern must identify the affected article, explain the nature of the concern as far as reasonably possible, and inform readers that the matter remains under consideration. When further evidence becomes available, the journal may publish a subsequent correction, retraction, or other appropriate notice.

4. Retraction of Published Articles

Retraction may be considered when an article's findings, conclusions, or scholarly integrity can no longer be relied upon because of serious error, ethical violations, or other substantial problems. Grounds for considering retraction may include:

• Clear evidence that the findings or conclusions are unreliable because of major error, fabrication, or falsification.
• Substantial plagiarism or seriously misleading redundant publication.
• Serious violations of research ethics or the unauthorized use of material that compromises the article.
• Copyright infringement or other significant legal problems affecting the publication.
• A compromised or manipulated peer review process that undermines the validity of the editorial decision.
• An undisclosed competing interest that materially compromises the reliability or interpretation of the work.

Retraction may be appropriate whether the underlying problem results from deliberate misconduct or an honest error. Its primary purpose is to correct the scholarly record, not to punish authors.

Before making a decision, the editorial office will assess the available evidence, seek clarification from the authors where appropriate, and consult independent expertise or relevant institutional authorities when necessary. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief or an appropriately authorized, non-conflicted editor, informed by the evidence and applicable ethical guidance. The publisher may assist with implementation but must not improperly influence the editorial decision.

A retraction notice must:

• Clearly identify the retracted article, including its title and bibliographic information.
• Be prominently labeled as a retraction.
• Explain the reason for retraction in objective and factual language.
• Identify who is issuing the notice.
• Be published promptly once the evidence supports the decision.
• Be freely accessible and linked to the original article, with the original article linked back to the notice wherever technically possible.

The original article should ordinarily remain accessible with a clear retraction designation, so that readers can identify its status and understand the publication history.

5. Exceptional Removal of Published Content

Removal of a published article's full text is an exceptional measure and must not be used simply because an author requests withdrawal or disagrees with the published findings. Removal may be considered when necessary to comply with a legal obligation or binding order, address a serious privacy or confidentiality violation, prevent a significant safety risk, or respond to another exceptional circumstance that cannot adequately be addressed through correction or retraction alone. Any removal decision must be carefully documented and authorized by the appropriate editorial and publishing authorities.

Where full-text removal is necessary, the journal will preserve available bibliographic metadata and publish a notice explaining the removal as far as legally and ethically permissible. The journal will retain the scholarly record to the greatest extent possible while complying with applicable legal and ethical obligations.

6. Editorial Procedures and Preservation of the Scholarly Record

Authors, readers, reviewers, institutions, and other interested parties may notify the editorial office of suspected errors or concerns affecting a submitted or published manuscript. The journal will assess the information proportionately and may seek clarification, supporting evidence, independent advice, or institutional assistance where necessary. Concerns involving suspected research or publication misconduct will also be handled in accordance with MILLATI's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. Allegations specifically concerning plagiarism are addressed under the journal's Plagiarism Policy.

All post-publication notices must be objective, appropriately documented, and linked to the affected article wherever possible. Where applicable, the journal will update article landing pages, bibliographic metadata, and DOI records to reflect the change. Significant changes must not be made silently in ways that obscure the publication history or mislead readers about the status of an article.

MILLATI will apply this policy in accordance with relevant COPE guidance and will periodically review its procedures to maintain the integrity and traceability of the published scholarly record.