Introduction

The Journal of Islamic Philosophy and Contemporary Thought (JIPCT) upholds a rigorous anti-plagiarism policy to protect the integrity, authenticity, and originality of all published scholarly content. The journal is firmly committed to disseminating original research in accordance with the highest standards of academic and publication ethics.

This policy articulates JIPCT’s position on plagiarism, the mechanisms used for its detection, and the procedures followed when potential misconduct is identified. By submitting a manuscript, authors affirm that their work is original, properly attributed, and free from all forms of plagiarism or unethical duplication.

Definition

For this policy, plagiarism is defined as the unauthorized use, reproduction, or close imitation of another individual’s intellectual output—whether ideas, language, data, or creative expression—without proper acknowledgement or citation.

Forms of plagiarism include, but are not limited to:

• Copying text, phrases, or substantial portions of another work verbatim without quotation marks and appropriate citation.

• Closely paraphrasing another author’s ideas or arguments without sufficient acknowledgement.

• Reproducing figures, tables, datasets, or other visual materials without proper attribution or permission.

• Presenting established concepts, interpretations, or theories as if they were the author’s own original contributions.

• Engaging in self-plagiarism is defined as reusing or republishing substantial parts of one’s previously disseminated work without clear reference, justification, or editorial consent.

Plagiarism in any form is a serious violation of scholarly integrity and is strictly prohibited. Authors are expected to appropriately credit the intellectual contributions of others and ensure that all submitted materials reflect genuine, independent scholarship.

Policy Guidelines

1. Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts submitted to JIPCT are screened for plagiarism before being sent for peer review. This process is part of the journal’s commitment to ensuring originality and maintaining ethical publication standards.

2. Detection Tool

The journal employs Turnitin, a globally recognized plagiarism detection system, to assess textual similarity and identify potential overlaps with previously published materials.

3. Similarity Threshold

Manuscripts yielding an overall similarity score exceeding 20% will undergo additional editorial scrutiny. The editorial board recognizes that similarity indices must be interpreted with scholarly judgment, taking into account disciplinary conventions, quoted materials, and common terminology.

4. Exclusions from Analysis

To ensure the accuracy of similarity reports, the plagiarism detection system is configured to exclude bibliographies, reference lists, and properly quoted or cited materials enclosed within quotation marks.

5. Consequences of Plagiarism

• Before Publication:
  If plagiarism is identified before publication, the manuscript will be rejected. The corresponding author will be notified, and in cases of deliberate or significant plagiarism, the authors’ affiliated institutions may also be informed.

• After Publication:
  If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, JIPCT will conduct a formal investigation. Upon verification, the article will be retracted, and a retraction notice will be publicly issued. The authors’ institutions will be notified, and additional sanctions may be applied depending on the severity of the violation.

JIPCT reserves the right to impose further actions, including temporary submission bans or formal reporting to relevant academic bodies, based on the extent of the infraction.

Implementation Procedures

1. Initial Screening

Upon submission, the editorial office conducts a plagiarism scan using Turnitin to generate a similarity report for each manuscript.

2. Evaluation Process

The editorial staff and section editors carefully review each similarity report. A high similarity percentage does not automatically indicate plagiarism. Editors assess whether flagged content constitutes an ethical concern or reflects acceptable academic conventions (e.g., technical phrasing or cited quotations).

3. Authorial Accountability

Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts. All borrowed materials must be appropriately cited, and permissions must be obtained for any copyrighted content, including tables, images, or extended quotations.

4. Handling Allegations

When plagiarism or overlapping content is suspected, the journal follows a transparent and ethical review process. Authors are allowed to respond to the allegations and provide clarifications or documentation as part of due process.

5. Transparency and Communication

JIPCT is committed to transparency in its plagiarism detection and resolution procedures. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office for clarification on similarity findings or to seek guidance on best practices in citation and paraphrasing.

6. Ongoing Policy Review

This policy and its implementation procedures are periodically reviewed and refined to ensure consistency with international best practices and evolving ethical standards in academic publishing.

Ethical Framework and References

This policy is informed by the ethical standards and guidelines established by the following organizations:

• Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) — Core Practices and Retraction Guidelines.

• World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) — Recommendations on Publication Ethics Policies for Medical Journals.

• Council of Science Editors (CSE) — Editorial Policy Statements on Integrity in Scientific Publishing.

• Elsevier Publishing Ethics Guidelines and Springer Nature Ethical Policies.

All authors submitting manuscripts to the Journal of Islamic Philosophy and Contemporary Thought (JIPCT) are required to adhere to these ethical frameworks as a condition of publication.