JOURNAL OF THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY OF ANKARA UNIVERSITY

PUBLICATION ETHICS AND PUBLICATION MALPRACTICE STATEMENT 

The Journal of the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University is committed to ensuring that academic research is conducted and published in accordance with the principles of scientific ethics. Our journal prioritizes the preservation of academic integrity, transparency, and objectivity throughout the editorial and publication processes. In this context, AUIFD defines the ethical responsibilities of the publisher, editors, authors, and reviewers in accordance with internationally recognized standards. The journal adheres to the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics-COPE and adopts publication policies aimed at strengthening the credibility and trustworthiness of scholarly communication.

In this document, AUIF refers to the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University, and AUIFD refers to the Journal of the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University.

AUIFD is an academic journal published by AUIF. The contents of the published articles do not necessarily represent the views of AUIF, AUIFD, and the editorial board of the journal. 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PUBLISHER AND THE EDITORIAL BOARD
Publication Principles
AUIFD is a semiannually published peer-reviewed academic journal published twice a year, with publication dates on May 31 and November 30.

All submissions undergo a plagiarism check using iThenticate during the initial submission phase. A similarity rate below 20% is expected. If similarity exceeds 20%, the Editorial Board will evaluate the report's validity.

Submitted manuscripts undergo a preliminary editorial evaluation process. Preliminary evaluation is conducted by members of the Editorial Board; however, the Advisory Board or other subject-matter experts may also be consulted.

Following the preliminary review, the Editorial Board determines whether the manuscript is suitable for peer review. Manuscripts that fail to meet the minimum requirements are rejected by the Editorial Board without being sent for peer review.

Manuscripts deemed appropriate for peer review as research articles are sent to reviewers for evaluation. If the reviewers' reports are  positive, the manuscript proceeds to the editorial review process, provided that the revisions and changes suggested by the reviewers are implemented.

If the Editorial Board finds the reviewers’ reports insufficient or unconvincing, it reserves the right to assign additional reviewers.

All publication decisions are based solely on academic merit, scholarly contribution, and ethical compliance. The publisher does not interfere in editorial decisions. All publication decisions are made independently by the Editorial Board.

No commercial, institutional, or personal influence may affect editorial judgment.

Submissions in categories other than Research Articles are subject only to editorial review processes.

Preliminary evaluation reports and referee reports are reviewed during the first Editorial Board meeting held after the reports are received by the journal. The Editorial Board conveys the decision regarding the article to the author after the meeting.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject a manuscript if the author fails to address the reviewer reports or the Editorial Board’s requests and suggestions for changes without providing adequate justification.

Articles not completing the peer review or editorial review processes by the publication date will be deferred to the next issue.

Only one research article by the same author can be published in a single issue. However, it is permissible to publish more than one work by the same author in different categories, subject to the decision of the Editorial Board.

Integrity and Impartiality

Articles submitted to the AUIFD are evaluated solely based on academic and scientific criteria. During the evaluation process, factors such as the authors' religion, language, race, gender, ethnic origin, nationality, political views, institutional affiliations, or any other personal characteristics are not considered as criteria. This principle aims to uphold scientific objectivity and academic integrity.

Members of the Editorial Board are subject to the journal's standard publication process, applicable to all, whether for research articles or other submission categories. They are not allowed to attend Editorial Board meetings where their own articles are discussed, nor can they influence the peer review process of their submissions. 

Confidentiality

The Editorial Board strictly adheres to the principle of confidentiality throughout the submission and review processes of articles. Information about submitted manuscripts is shared only with the authors, reviewers, and subject specialists involved in the preliminary evaluation. No information is disclosed to individuals or institutions not involved in the review process. This principle aims to ensure the reliability of the process and uphold academic ethical values.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Manuscripts submitted to the AUIFD but not published after the review process cannot be used in any form by the editors or members of the Editorial Board. This principle safeguards the intellectual property and academic contributions of authors. Furthermore, transparency and adherence to ethical standards are fundamental to avoiding conflicts of interest throughout the process.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF REVIEWERS
Contribution to the Editorial Decision-Making Process

The contributions of reviewers to the evaluation process are critical in enhancing the academic quality of manuscripts and supporting the final decision-making of the AUIFD Editorial Board. Reviewers’ revision suggestions are communicated to authors to help improve the manuscript. Reviewers’ evaluations support the editorial decision-making process; however, the final decision rests with the AUIFD Editorial Board. Revision suggestions that do not meet the journal’s publication criteria may lead to the rejection of the manuscript.

Promptness
Normally AUIFD gives reviewers 15 days to review an article but this can be extended when and if necessary. However, reviewers who cannot complete the evaluation within this timeframe may request an extension, depending on the journal’s publication schedule. Reviewers should only agree to review manuscripts for which they have the subject expertise required to carry out a proper assessment in a timely manner and should notify the editorial office of AUIFD immediately if they cannot fulfill this task so alternative reviewers can be assigned. 

Confidentiality

Manuscripts submitted for review must be treated as confidential documents. Without explicit permission from the AUIFD Editorial Board, manuscripts must not be shared with third parties or discussed publicly. Reviewers may not use the content of unpublished manuscripts in their own research without the author’s consent.

Standards of Objectivity

Reviewers’ evaluations must be objective, constructive, and scientifically grounded. The assessment should focus solely on the academic merit of the manuscript, avoiding any personal criticism of the authors. Reviewers should provide clear explanations and strong arguments to support their evaluations. AUIFD does not consider biased or personalized reviews and may resubmit such manuscripts for further evaluation.

Identification of Sources and Potential Plagiarism

Reviewers should identify any works cited improperly or omitted in the manuscript under review. Observations, arguments, or statements not explicitly referenced should be cited using appropriate footnotes. Reviewers must notify the editor of any similarity or overlap between the reviewed manuscript and previously published works of which they have personal knowledge.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

Privileged information or ideas obtained during the review process must remain confidential and not be used for personal advantage. Reviewers should avoid evaluating manuscripts if there are conflicts of interest with the authors, companies, or institutions associated with the manuscript due to competitive, collaborative, or other relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF AUTHORS
Reporting Standards
Authors should present an accurate account of the research performed, and offer an objective discussion of its significance. Underlying data should be represented accurately. The manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references to permit others to replicate the work. Dishonest, false or incompetent statements constitute unethical behaviour and are unacceptable.

Originality and Plagiarism

Authors should ensure that they have written entirely original works. The work and words of others must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism in all its forms including self-plagiarism (text-recycling) is unethical and unacceptable. If AUIFD identifies plagiarism in an article, it is immediately removed from evaluation process. If identified only after publication, AUIFD notifies relevant authorities of the situation.

Multiple, Redundant and Concurrent Publication
The manuscript should offer new, original insights or interpretations that have not been published before and are not under consideration for publication at another journal. Submitting an article already published in any form and submitting the same article to multiple journals are unethical and unacceptable.

Acknowledgement of Sources
Authors must properly acknowledge the works of others. Authors should cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of their work.

Articles derived from graduate theses can be published in AUIFD. In such cases, the journal must be informed during the initial submission, and after the peer-review process is completed, the bibliographic details of the thesis must be provided in the first footnote.

Papers presented at scientific meetings but not yet published may be considered for publication in AUIFD. In such cases, the journal must be informed during the initial submission, and after the peer-review process is completed, details about the presentation must be included in the first footnote.

Authorship

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution or interpretation of the article. All those who have made a significant contribution should be listed as co-authors. Others who have contributed in certain aspects should be listed in the acknowledgement section. All co-authors and responsible authorities should have approved the submitted version.

If there are multiple authors, the contribution rates of each author to the article must be specified.

Articles derived from graduate theses must list the student as the first author and the supervisor as the second author.

Ethical Statements

For articles requiring ethics committee approval, information regarding the institution granting the approval, as well as the decision number and date, must be provided. Research requiring ethics committee approval includes studies conducted using qualitative or quantitative approaches that involve data collection from participants, such as surveys and interviews, as well as retrospective studies conducted in compliance with personal data protection laws.

Permission must be obtained and documented for the use of scales, surveys, and photographs belonging to others. Furthermore, compliance with copyright regulations must be indicated for any intellectual and artistic works used.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Tools: In determining the originality of a manuscript, the author’s own unique contribution should take precedence over the use of artificial intelligence. AI tools may be used for instrumental purposes (e.g., translation, language editing, visualization, etc.); however, caution should be exercised as AI technologies may generate misleading outputs. When such tools are used, the final responsibility and verification rest with the author. Transparency in the context of academic integrity is crucial, and authors must declare at which stage or process AI technologies were utilized.

Information on ethics approval, author contribution rates, and AI usage declarations is included at the end of the article text.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest

All authors must disclose any financial or other conflicts of interest that could potentially influence the results or interpretation of their research articles. All sources of financial support for the study must be explicitly stated. Declarations of conflicts of interest and financial support are included at the end of the article text.

Right to Object to Suggested Revisions

Authors have the right to object to revision suggestions made by reviewers or the Editorial Board. However, in such cases, the author must provide a reasonable explanation for the issues being contested.

POST-PUBLICATION ETHICS

Corrections, Expressions of Concern and Retractions Policy

AUIFD is committed to preserving the integrity of the academic record. When errors or ethical concerns arise after publication, the journal follows transparent and internationally recognized procedures.

Corrections (Erratum / Corrigendum)

If a published article contains a significant error that affects clarity or accuracy but does not invalidate the overall findings, the journal may publish a correction.

Corrections:

-Clearly identify the nature of the error.

-Are linked to the original article.

-Preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Expression of Concern

If serious concerns are raised regarding a published article and an investigation is ongoing, the Editorial Board may issue an Expression of Concern to alert readers.

This notice remains linked to the article until the matter is resolved.

Retractions

Retraction may occur in cases of: Proven plagiarism, data fabrication or falsification, major ethical violations, duplicate or redundant publication, serious errors invalidating findings.

Retractions:

-Are decided by the Editorial Board.

-Are clearly labeled and linked to the original article.

-Do not remove the original article from the archive; instead, the article is marked as retracted to maintain transparency.

Investigation Procedure

Allegations of research misconduct or ethical violations are evaluated confidentially.

The Editorial Board may consult independent experts of relevant institutions if necessary.

The publisher does not interfere in investigations or post-publication decisions.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors may submit a reasoned written appeal against editorial decisions, including retractions or corrections.

Appeals are reviewed by the Editorial Board. When necessary, additional independent reviewers may be consulted.

Complaints regarding ethical concerns may be submitted confidentially.

Post-Publication Contact

Concerns regarding published articles, ethical issues, or complaints may be submitted to:

iladergi@ankara.edu.tr

Editorial and Publisher Responsibilities in Post-Publication Processes

The Editorial Board is responsible for investigating ethical concerns in accordance with COPE guidelines. The publisher does not interfere in editorial decisions.

All investigations are conducted fairly, confidentially, and transparently.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All participants in the publication process (authors, reviewers, editors) must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work.

Undisclosed conflicts of interest may result in corrective action, including retraction where appropriate.

Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their published work, it is their responsibility to promptly notify the editor and the Editorial Board. In such cases, the author is obligated to cooperate with AUIFD either to retract the article or to publish a correction.

PUBLICATION POLICY OF THE JOURNAL OF THE FACULTY OF DIVINITY OF ANKARA UNIVERSITY

• The Journal of the Faculty of Divinity of Ankara University (AUIFD) is an open-access academic journal that conducts plagiarism checks, preliminary evaluations, double-blind peer reviews, and editorial review processes.

• The journal publishes works in the following categories: Research Articles, Research Notes, Book Reviews, Scientific Conference Reviews, Interviews, and Tributary Notes. Authors submitting to each category must adhere to the points outlined on the Article Categories and Processing Workflow page.

• Submissions are accepted in Turkish, English, and Arabic.

• Articles are expected to be related to at least one subfield of Islamic and religious studies.

• AUIFD is published twice a year (May 31 and November 30). The submission system open for article submissions from December 15 to December 25 and from June 15 to June 25.

• Preliminary evaluation reports and referee reports are reviewed during the first Editorial Board meeting held after the reports are received by the journal. The Editorial Board conveys the decision regarding the article to the author after the meeting.

• Articles not completing the peer review or editorial review processes by the publication date will be deferred to the next issue.

• All submissions undergo a plagiarism check using iThenticate during the initial submission phase. A similarity rate below 20% is expected. If similarity exceeds 20%, the Editorial Board will evaluate the report's validity.

• All Research Articles undergo preliminary evaluation (approximately 3 weeks) and peer review (approximately 30 days, though delays due to reviewers are possible). Editorial reviews take approximately 30 days.

• Submissions in categories other than Research Articles are subject only to editorial review processes.

• Multiple Research Articles by the same author cannot be published in a single issue. However, it is possible to publish multiple works by the same author in different categories, subject to the decision of the Editorial Board.

• Members of the Editorial Board are subject to the journal's standard publication process, applicable to all, whether for research articles or other submission categories. They are not allowed to attend Editorial Board meetings where their own articles are discussed, nor can they influence the peer review process of their submissions. 

• Manuscripts submitted to AUIFD must not have been previously published or submitted for publication elsewhere, either in full or in part. Authors who wish to submit to the journal are expected to read the Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement. By submitting a manuscript, authors are deemed to have accepted these principles and terms. 

• Articles derived from graduate theses can be published in AUIFD. In such cases, the journal must be informed during the initial submission, and after the peer-review process is completed, the bibliographic details of the thesis must be provided in the first footnote.

• Papers presented at scientific meetings but not yet published may be considered for publication in AUIFD. In such cases, the journal must be informed during the initial submission, and after the peer-review process is completed, details about the presentation must be included in the first footnote.

• The Editorial Board determines the final order of articles within the relevant issue and category for those accepted for publication.

• AUIFD reserves the right to publish special issues. All articles included in special issues are subject to the journal’s general publication principles and processes.

• AUIFD is first published electronically and subsequently printed. One copy of the printed journal is sent to authors after publication.

• A full transliteration system is applied in AUIFD. Therefore, after peer review, transliteration must be performed according to the AUIFD Publication Guide. For English articles, English titles and English abstracts of all articles AUIFD follows the IJMES Translation and Transliteration Guide rules for words requiring transliteration.

• All articles must include a bibliography listing all cited works. For Arabic articles, a Latin-script bibliography is mandatory.

• Articles derived from graduate theses must list the student as the first author and the supervisor as the second author.