Plagiarism Policy

1. Policy Statement

The journal maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and is committed to publishing only original, high-quality scholarly work. All submissions must be the authors’ own work and must properly acknowledge the contributions of others.

Plagiarism in any form constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. The journal follows the guidelines and best practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, ideas, images, or data from other sources without proper citation
  • Reproducing substantial parts of another work without permission
  • Self-plagiarism (reuse of one’s own previously published work without disclosure)
  • Paraphrasing without appropriate acknowledgment
  • Submitting work generated or modified dishonestly without attribution

3. Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts submitted to the journal are checked using reliable plagiarism detection software such as:

  • Turnitin
  • iThenticate

Screening is conducted at multiple stages:

  • Initial submission screening
  • Post-revision (if required)
  • Pre-publication verification

4. Acceptable Similarity Index

The journal follows strict similarity thresholds:

  • Overall similarity index: must be below 10–15%
  • Single source similarity: should not exceed 3–5%
  • Exclusions may apply for references, quotations, and common phrases

Manuscripts exceeding these limits may be:

  • Returned to authors for correction
  • Rejected without review (in severe cases)

5. Handling Suspected Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage:

Before Publication

  • Manuscript may be rejected immediately
  • Authors will be notified with evidence
  • Authors may be asked to revise or explain

After Publication

  • Article may be retracted
  • A retraction notice will be published
  • Authors’ institutions may be informed

The journal follows COPE flowcharts for handling misconduct cases.

6. Author Responsibilities

Authors must ensure that:

  • Their work is original and unpublished
  • All sources are properly cited
  • Proper permissions are obtained for copyrighted material
  • Plagiarism reports (if required) are submitted during submission

7. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors and reviewers are responsible for:

  • Evaluating manuscripts for originality
  • Maintaining confidentiality
  • Reporting suspected ethical issues
  • Ensuring compliance with ethical standards

8. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools (e.g., language models, content generators):

  • AI-generated content must be properly reviewed and validated
  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors
  • Responsibility for content remains with human authors

9. Penalties for Violations

Depending on severity, actions may include:

  • Immediate rejection of manuscript
  • Blacklisting authors for a defined period
  • Retraction of published articles
  • Notification to affiliated institutions

10. Appeals and Complaints

Authors may appeal decisions by submitting:

  • A detailed explanation
  • Supporting evidence

Appeals will be reviewed by the editorial board in accordance with COPE guidelines.

11. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed periodically to ensure compliance with international standards and indexing requirements, including DOAJ criteria.

12. Declaration

By submitting to this journal, authors agree to comply with this plagiarism policy and accept all consequences in case of violation.