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1. General Principles and Publication Ethics

1.1. General Principles

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to promoting the quality and integrity of scholarly research and to publishing original studies that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of religious studies and related social sciences and humanities. In all its editorial processes, the Journal is guided by the principles of fairness, transparency, independence, and academic responsibility, thereby ensuring the integrity of the scholarly publishing process and the protection of the rights of all parties involved.

The Journal bases its policies and standards on the principles and recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing, developed by COPE, DOAJ, OASPA, and WAME, in addition to applicable academic regulations and guidelines.

The Journal is committed to providing a scholarly publishing environment founded on integrity, impartiality, and mutual respect. It rejects all forms of conduct that violate research and publication ethics, including plagiarism, falsification, fabrication, duplicate or simultaneous submission, citation manipulation, failure to disclose conflicts of interest, and any practices that may compromise the integrity of the scholarly record.

1.2. Publication Ethics

Publication ethics are a shared responsibility among all participants in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, the Editorial Board, and the publisher. Accordingly, the Journal is committed to applying the highest ethical standards at all stages of manuscript submission, peer review, editing, publication, and archiving.

The Editorial Board considers all allegations of research or publication misconduct seriously and impartially and takes appropriate action in accordance with COPE guidelines. Such action may include requesting clarification from the parties concerned, issuing corrections, retracting articles, or publishing explanatory statements where necessary.

The Journal also maintains the confidentiality of information related to submitted manuscripts. Unpublished materials or data contained in submitted manuscripts may not be used for personal or research purposes prior to publication without the written consent of their authors.

1.3. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are required to submit original research that represents their genuine scholarly contribution and is based on sound scientific methodology, while maintaining accuracy and objectivity in the presentation, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Authors must properly acknowledge and cite all sources, references, and borrowed ideas in accordance with accepted scholarly standards. They must refrain from all forms of plagiarism, improper appropriation, or the use of others' work without appropriate attribution.

Authorship is limited to individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions to the conception, design, implementation, analysis, or preparation of the study for publication. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript before its submission or publication.

Authors are also required to disclose any financial or institutional support, as well as any relationships that may constitute an actual or potential conflict of interest. They must confirm that the submitted work has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in their work, either before or after publication, they must notify the Editorial Board without delay and cooperate in correcting the error or retracting the article when required by scholarly integrity.

Authors must obtain all necessary legal, institutional, and ethical approvals for research requiring such approval. They bear full responsibility for the content of their work and for the accuracy and integrity of the data, results, and conclusions presented therein.

1.4. Responsibilities of the Publisher

The publisher is committed to supporting the independence of editorial decision-making and refraining from interfering in the evaluation of manuscripts, peer-review outcomes, or decisions regarding acceptance and rejection, thereby ensuring the integrity and objectivity of the editorial process.

The publisher provides the technical and administrative infrastructure necessary for the Journal's continued operation in accordance with international standards. It works to preserve the scholarly record by maintaining published content and ensuring its continued accessibility, supporting the implementation of publication ethics principles, and addressing all complaints and reports concerning research or publication misconduct seriously.

The publisher also respects the rights of authors, readers, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Board and does not exert any influence that may compromise the Journal's independence, credibility, or scholarly reputation.

1.5. Responsibilities of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board of İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to managing all stages of the editorial process in accordance with the principles of research integrity, transparency, and objectivity, thereby ensuring the Journal's academic quality and maintaining the reliability of the scholarly record.

The Editorial Board evaluates submitted manuscripts on the basis of their scholarly merit, originality, methodological soundness, and relevance to the Journal's aims and scope, without discrimination based on the authors' gender, nationality, language, institutional affiliation, intellectual background, or religious or political beliefs.

The Editorial Board is also committed to:

• Treating all manuscripts with strict confidentiality and disclosing information related to them only to individuals directly involved in the evaluation and publication process.
• Ensuring that the peer-review process is conducted in accordance with established scholarly standards and selecting reviewers with appropriate expertise and competence relevant to the subject of the manuscript.
• Making decisions regarding acceptance, rejection, or requests for revision on the basis of reviewers' reports and editorial assessment, free from personal or institutional considerations.
• Monitoring compliance by authors and reviewers with the Journal's policies and publication ethics.
• Taking appropriate action when a potential violation of research or publication ethics is suspected.
• Publishing corrections or clarifications, or retracting articles when necessary, in order to preserve the accuracy and reliability of the scholarly record.

1.6. Responsibilities of the Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief bears ultimate responsibility for the scholarly content published in the Journal and for the integrity of its editorial procedures. The Editor-in-Chief has full authority to make the final decision regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts following the completion of the scholarly evaluation and editorial processes.

The Editor-in-Chief is committed to:

• Ensuring the application of the Journal's policies and ethical standards to all manuscripts without exception.
• Safeguarding the independence of editorial decision-making and preventing any internal or external party from influencing the outcomes of scholarly evaluation.
• Overseeing the integrity of the peer-review process and ensuring that it is free from conflicts of interest or any practices that may compromise its objectivity.
• Addressing complaints and appeals concerning editorial decisions in a fair and transparent manner and within a reasonable timeframe.
• Promoting the quality of the Journal and developing its policies in accordance with international standards of scholarly publishing.

1.7. Editorial Independence

İtkan Journal for Academic Research enjoys full editorial independence in all decisions concerning the submission, peer review, acceptance, rejection, and publication of manuscripts.

No sponsoring, publishing, funding, or other interested party may interfere with editorial decisions or influence the outcomes of the peer-review process. All publication-related decisions are made solely on the basis of scholarly and academic considerations.

The Journal maintains a clear separation between administrative and financial matters on the one hand and editorial and scholarly decisions on the other, thereby ensuring the impartiality and full independence of the editorial process.

1.8. Confidentiality and Data Protection

The Editorial Board is committed to protecting the personal data and academic information of authors and reviewers and to using such information solely for purposes related to the scholarly publishing process.

All manuscripts, documents, and related correspondence are treated as confidential materials. They may not be accessed or disclosed outside the scope of the editorial process except where required by applicable regulations or after obtaining the necessary consent.

1.9. Conflicts of Interest among Editors

Members of the Editorial Board are required to disclose any personal, professional, financial, or academic relationships that may affect, or reasonably be perceived as affecting, their impartiality in handling a manuscript.

Where a conflict of interest exists, the editor concerned must refrain from participating in the evaluation of the manuscript or making any decision related to it. The manuscript shall be assigned to another editor who meets the requirements of impartiality and independence.

1.10. Handling Complaints and Appeals

The Journal provides a clear mechanism for receiving and addressing complaints and appeals relating to publication decisions, peer-review procedures, or ethical misconduct.

All complaints are referred to the Editor-in-Chief for confidential and impartial consideration. Where necessary, independent members of the Editorial Board or qualified external experts may be consulted. The parties concerned shall be informed of the outcome of the complaint or appeal and of any actions taken, in accordance with the principles of fairness and transparency.

2. Peer Review Policy and Responsibilities of Reviewers

2.1. Peer Review Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research employs a Double-Blind Peer Review system to ensure the integrity, objectivity, and independence of the evaluation process. Under this system, the identities of authors are concealed from reviewers, and the identities of reviewers are concealed from authors throughout all stages of the peer-review process.

All submitted manuscripts, after passing the initial editorial screening, are subject to scholarly peer review by at least two qualified reviewers with appropriate academic expertise and experience in the subject area of the manuscript.

The peer-review process aims to assess the quality, originality, methodology, scholarly contribution, and relevance of the manuscript to the Journal's aims and scope, without regard to the authors' nationality, institutional affiliation, beliefs, or personal background.

Publication decisions are based on the scholarly merit of the manuscript, reviewers' reports, and editorial evaluation. The Editor-in-Chief retains the final authority to accept, reject, or request revisions to a manuscript.

2.2. Stages of the Peer Review Process

Manuscripts submitted to the Journal undergo the following stages:

1. Initial Screening: The Editorial Board reviews the manuscript to verify its compatibility with the Journal's aims and scope, compliance with the submission and publication requirements, completeness of the required documents, and successful completion of the similarity check.

2. Selection and Appointment of Reviewers: The manuscript is assigned to specialist reviewers selected according to their academic expertise, with due consideration given to the absence of any conflict of interest.

3. Scholarly Evaluation: Reviewers prepare independent scholarly reports addressing the originality of the manuscript, the soundness of its methodology, the accuracy of its results, the quality of its presentation, and its contribution to scholarly knowledge.

4. Editorial Decision: The Editorial Board may issue one of the following decisions:

• Acceptance without revision.
• Acceptance subject to minor revisions.
• Resubmission for further evaluation following major revisions.
• Rejection.

Where there is a substantial disagreement between reviewers' reports, the Journal may refer the manuscript to a third reviewer. The final decision rests with the Editorial Board.

The Editorial Board may also reject a manuscript even where reviewers recommend further evaluation following major revisions, if it determines that the manuscript does not meet the Journal's scholarly and publication standards or that the likelihood of the manuscript meeting those standards after revision is insufficient.

2.3. Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are required to perform their duties in accordance with the highest standards of integrity, objectivity, and independence, and in a manner consistent with the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Reviewers are required to observe the following responsibilities:

1. Confidentiality: All manuscripts submitted for review are confidential documents. Reviewers may not disclose, share, use, or retain copies of such manuscripts outside the scope of the peer-review process, except with the explicit permission of the Editorial Board.

2. Objectivity: Peer-review reports must be based on an objective scholarly assessment, free from personal, ideological, institutional, religious, or political considerations.

Comments and recommendations must be clear, supported by scholarly evidence, and directed toward improving the quality of the manuscript.

3. Academic Competence: Reviewers should accept a review assignment only when the subject of the manuscript falls within their area of academic expertise and when they are able to complete the review within the specified timeframe.

If a reviewer lacks sufficient expertise or is unable to meet the required deadline, they should decline the assignment promptly.

4. Conflicts of Interest: Reviewers must decline to review any manuscript where an actual or potential conflict of interest exists, including personal, professional, financial, or institutional relationships with the authors or entities associated with the research.

Any potential conflict of interest must be disclosed to the Editorial Board before the review process begins.

5. Reporting Ethical Concerns: If a reviewer identifies any of the following:

• Plagiarism.
• Duplicate publication.
• Falsification or fabrication of data.
• Unattributed or improperly documented citations.
• Manipulation of images, tables, or results.
• Any other ethical violation.

the reviewer must immediately notify the Editorial Board and provide any available evidence or relevant observations.

6. Use of Information: Reviewers may not use any information, data, or results contained in a manuscript for personal, professional, or research benefit before the work has been formally published.

2.4. Review Criteria

In evaluating manuscripts, reviewers are expected to consider the following criteria:

• The originality and novelty of the research.
• The significance of the topic and its scholarly contribution.
• The clarity of the research problem and objectives.
• The soundness of the research methodology.
• The accuracy of the analysis and conclusions.
• The adequacy and currency of the references.
• The quality of the language and academic style.
• Compliance with research ethics.
• The manuscript's relevance to the Journal's scope.

2.5. Confidentiality of the Peer Review Process

The Journal is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all information related to the peer-review process. The identities of reviewers, the contents of review reports, and any information related to the evaluation process may not be disclosed except where required by applicable regulations or with the consent of all parties concerned.

The Journal does not use artificial intelligence tools or external third parties to review manuscripts in any manner that may result in the disclosure of their contents, except within limits that ensure the protection of confidentiality and the rights of authors.

2.6. Peer Review Timeframe

The Journal seeks to complete the peer-review process within a reasonable timeframe while ensuring the quality and thoroughness of the scholarly evaluation.

In the event of a delay beyond the Journal's control, the Editorial Board shall inform the authors accordingly and make every reasonable effort to complete the review process as soon as possible.

2.7. Ethics of Communication During Peer Review

All correspondence related to the peer-review process shall take place exclusively through the Editorial Board.

Authors may not communicate directly with reviewers, and reviewers may not communicate directly with authors outside the Journal's official communication channels.

3. Conflicts of Interest, Research Misconduct, Complaints, and Appeals

3.1. Conflict of Interest Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to ensuring the integrity and transparency of the scholarly publishing process. The disclosure of conflicts of interest is considered one of the fundamental principles governing all stages of evaluation, editing, and publication.

A conflict of interest refers to any financial, professional, institutional, personal, or academic relationship or circumstance that may affect, or may reasonably be perceived as affecting, the objectivity or impartiality of a scholarly decision.

This policy applies to all participants in the publishing process, including authors, reviewers, members of the Editorial Board, and the publisher.

3.2. Responsibilities of Authors Regarding Conflicts of Interest

Authors are required to disclose fully all sources of funding and support, as well as any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the results of the research or their interpretation.

Failure to disclose a conflict of interest constitutes a violation of publication ethics. The Journal may take appropriate action if an undisclosed conflict of interest is identified after publication.

3.3. Responsibilities of Reviewers Regarding Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment.

A reviewer must decline to review a manuscript if they have a relationship with any of the authors that may affect their impartiality, including:

• Close research collaboration.
• Academic supervision.
• A direct employment relationship.
• Direct scholarly competition.
• Financial interests.
• Any personal relationship that may affect the objectivity of the evaluation.

3.4. Responsibilities of the Editorial Board Regarding Conflicts of Interest

Members of the Editorial Board must disclose any conflict of interest when handling manuscripts.

Where a conflict of interest exists, the editor concerned must refrain from participating in all stages of the manuscript's evaluation, and the manuscript shall be assigned to another editor.

No member of the Editorial Board may make a decision regarding a manuscript authored by themselves, a family member, or colleagues with whom they have a direct relationship.

3.5. Research Misconduct

The Journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in addressing all cases of research misconduct.

Violations of research integrity include, but are not limited to:

• Plagiarism.
• Falsification.
• Fabrication of data.
• Duplicate or redundant publication.
• Simultaneous submission to more than one journal.
• Citation manipulation.
• The purchase or sale of research papers or the use of so-called paper mills.
• The inclusion of individuals as authors who do not meet authorship criteria or the exclusion of individuals who qualify for authorship.
• Manipulation of images, figures, tables, or data.
• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
• Any other practice that compromises research integrity.

3.6. Procedures for Addressing Ethical Misconduct

Where a potential violation of publication ethics is suspected, the Journal follows the procedures below:

1. Conducting an initial assessment of the complaint or available evidence.
2. Contacting the author or other parties concerned and requesting clarification.
3. Assessing the available evidence in accordance with the principles of fairness and confidentiality.
4. Consulting experts or advisers where necessary.
5. Taking appropriate action in accordance with COPE guidelines.

The decision may include one or more of the following measures:

• Dismissing the complaint.
• Requesting correction of the manuscript or article.
• Temporarily suspending the publication process.
• Rejecting the manuscript.
• Retracting a published article.
• Publishing a correction or clarification.
• Notifying the relevant academic institution or funding body where appropriate.

3.7. Complaints Policy

The Journal welcomes complaints concerning editorial procedures, peer review, or publication ethics and undertakes to consider them fairly and independently.

Complaints may relate to:

• Delays in the peer-review process.
• Violations of publication ethics.
• Conflicts of interest.
• Abuse of editorial authority.
• Reviewer misconduct.
• Violations of the Journal's policies.

All complaints are treated with strict confidentiality. No retaliatory action shall be taken against a complainant who submits a complaint in good faith.

3.8. Appeals Policy

Authors have the right to appeal an editorial decision if they believe that the decision was based on a scholarly or procedural error.

An appeal must be submitted in writing and supported by clear scholarly grounds. Mere disagreement with the outcome of the peer-review process is not, in itself, sufficient grounds for an appeal.

The Editorial Board shall review the appeal and may:

• Uphold the original decision.
• Re-evaluate the manuscript.
• Refer the manuscript to one or more new reviewers.
• Issue a new decision if a material error in the evaluation process is identified.

The decision issued following consideration of an appeal shall be final.

3.9. Confidentiality During Investigations

The Journal is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all investigations concerning ethical misconduct and shall not disclose information except to the extent required by applicable regulations or necessary to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

All parties shall be treated fairly, with good faith presumed until the investigation is completed and a final decision is reached.

3.10. Commitment to COPE Guidelines

The Journal follows the flowcharts and recommendations issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) when addressing all cases of research misconduct, including plagiarism, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, article retractions, corrections, and other ethical matters.

4. Open Access, Copyright, and Licensing Policy

4.1. Open Access Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to a Full Open Access policy, based on the belief that the free availability of scholarly knowledge contributes to the advancement of research, encourages knowledge exchange, and supports academic collaboration at the international level.

All articles published in the Journal are made freely, immediately, and permanently available upon publication, without any embargo period, subscription, registration requirement, or access fee.

Readers, researchers, and academic institutions worldwide may read, download, copy, store, print, cite, share, and use published articles for legitimate scholarly purposes, in accordance with the terms of the license adopted by the Journal.

The Journal endorses the principles of the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) and recognizes that removing financial, legal, and technical barriers to accessing scholarly knowledge contributes to the advancement of research and serves society.

4.2. Copyright Policy

Authors retain the intellectual property and copyright in their published articles. Publication of a manuscript in the Journal does not transfer copyright ownership to the publisher.

Upon acceptance of a manuscript for publication, the author or authors grant the Journal a non-exclusive right to publish the work, make it electronically available, archive, index, preserve, and distribute it through databases and scholarly repositories with which the Journal cooperates, while the authors retain their full intellectual property rights.

Authors may reuse their work for educational, research, or academic purposes or deposit the published version in institutional or personal repositories, provided that the original publication in the Journal is clearly acknowledged and the full citation details are provided.

4.3. Licensing Policy

All articles published in the Journal are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

This license permits users to:

• Read and download the content free of charge.
• Copy and redistribute articles in any medium or format.
• Share the content for scholarly and educational purposes.
• Adapt, transform, or build upon the content for non-commercial purposes.
• Cite or reuse the content, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author or authors, the source is identified, the applicable license is indicated, and the content is not used for commercial purposes except as permitted by the license or with the permission of the rights holders where required.

All users of the content must comply with the terms of the applicable license and must not take any action that restricts the rights granted by the license to other users.

4.4. Content Reuse Policy

Articles published in the Journal may be reused in accordance with the terms of the CC BY-NC 4.0 license without prior permission from the Journal, provided that the use is non-commercial and the following requirements are observed:

• The name of the author or authors is acknowledged.
• The name of the Journal is identified.
• Full scholarly citation details are provided.
• The applicable license is indicated.
• Any modifications made to the content are clearly identified.

The content may not be presented in a manner that suggests that the Journal or the author or authors endorse the organization, product, or activity in connection with which the content is reused.

4.5. Permanent Access to Content

The Journal is committed to ensuring the continuous and long-term availability of all published articles through its website and takes appropriate measures to preserve published content and maintain long-term access to it.

In the event that the Journal's website is transferred or its publishing platform is changed, the Journal shall make every reasonable effort to preserve permanent links to articles and their metadata in order to ensure continued access and prevent the loss of published content.

4.6. No Embargo Policy

The Journal does not impose any embargo period on access to its content. All articles become publicly available immediately upon electronic publication.

Access to and use of the content are not restricted by subscriptions, memberships, fees, or prior registration.

4.7. Commitment to Open Access

The Journal applies its open access policy to all issues and all types of scholarly content published in the Journal without exception. It also supports international initiatives aimed at promoting free access to scholarly knowledge and ensuring the widest possible dissemination of published research.

4.8. Official Open Access Statement

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal published under a Full Open Access model. All published articles are made freely, immediately, and permanently available without subscription or access fees under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).

The Journal believes that the free availability of scholarly knowledge constitutes a fundamental foundation for the advancement of research, the strengthening of academic collaboration, and service to society.

5. Fees, Funding, Advertising, and Direct Marketing Policy

5.1. Article Processing Charges Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to providing scholarly publishing services without imposing financial burdens on authors or readers, based on the belief that free access to knowledge supports scholarly research and promotes the exchange of knowledge.

The Journal does not charge any fees at any stage of the publication process, including:

• Manuscript submission fees.
• Initial screening fees.
• Peer-review fees.
• Article Processing Charges (APCs).
• Publication fees.
• Page, figure, or table charges.
• Fees for accessing or downloading content.

All stages of manuscript submission, peer review, publication, and access to published content are provided completely free of charge.

5.2. Funding Policy

The Journal welcomes research funded by government bodies, universities, research institutions, scholarly organizations, and other entities that support scientific research, provided that such funding does not affect the independence, integrity, or findings of the research.

Authors are required to disclose all sources of funding and any financial or institutional support related to the research at the time of submission. Where applicable, authors must also state the role of the funding body in the design of the study, the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, the preparation of the manuscript, or the decision to submit or publish the work.

Disclosure of funding is a requirement of transparency and does not, in itself, constitute a basis for the acceptance or rejection of a manuscript.

5.3. Independence of Editorial Decisions from Funding

The Journal affirms that no financial or institutional support grants a funding body the right to interfere with editorial decisions, peer-review outcomes, or decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts.

All publication decisions are made on the basis of scholarly quality, originality, and compliance with research and publication ethics, without influence from funding bodies, sponsors, or the publisher.

5.4. Advertising Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research does not publish commercial advertisements on its website, within published articles, or in its scholarly files.

Should the Journal adopt advertising in the future, it shall maintain a complete separation between scholarly content and advertising, ensuring that advertising does not influence editorial independence or the integrity of the publishing process.

No advertising material may be construed as an endorsement by the Journal of any product, service, or institution.

5.5. Direct Marketing Policy

The Journal is committed to ensuring that all activities aimed at promoting the Journal and communicating with researchers and academic institutions are conducted professionally and ethically and are based on accurate and clear information, free from misleading promotional practices or unsolicited communications.

The Journal does not employ marketing practices that may be interpreted as unprofessional invitations to publish or as promises of acceptance, rapid publication, or the circumvention of the peer-review process.

All promotional communications and announcements relating to the Journal shall be consistent with its academic mission and international standards of scholarly publishing.

5.6. Financial Transparency

The Journal is committed to clearly disclosing all financial policies related to publication, including any fees, where applicable, and sources of institutional funding, thereby ensuring full transparency for authors, readers, and indexing bodies.

Any changes to the Journal's financial policies shall be clearly announced on the Journal's website before taking effect.

5.7. Equality of Opportunity in Publishing

The financial circumstances of an author, the author's institutional affiliation, or the source of research funding shall not affect the decision to accept or reject a manuscript.

The Journal evaluates all submissions according to objective scholarly criteria, without discrimination based on financial capacity, institutional affiliation, country, or nationality.

5.8. Official Statement

İtkan Journal for Academic Research does not charge authors or readers any fees at any stage of the publication process. Manuscript submission, peer review, article processing, publication, and access to content are provided free of charge.

Editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly criteria and are made independently of any financial or institutional considerations.

5.9. Ownership and Publisher

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is owned and published by the Faculty of Islamic Sciences, Kahramanmaraş İstiklal University.

The University provides the institutional, administrative, and technical support necessary for the continued operation of the Journal and the fulfillment of its scholarly mission. It fully respects the independence of the Editorial Board and does not interfere with scholarly or editorial decisions concerning the evaluation, acceptance, rejection, or publication of manuscripts.

All editorial decisions are made in accordance with academic standards and publication ethics, independently of administrative, financial, or institutional considerations.

5.10. Revenue Sources

The publication and development of the Journal are funded by Kahramanmaraş İstiklal University as part of its support for scholarly research and service to the academic community.

The Journal does not rely on publication fees, subscriptions, or commercial advertising for its funding and does not receive any financial payment in exchange for publishing scholarly research.

The Journal's funding sources do not influence editorial independence or the outcomes of the peer-review process in any way. The Journal is committed to full transparency regarding its ownership, management, and sources of funding.

6. Policy on Research Originality, Plagiarism, and Research Misconduct

6.1. Research Originality

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to publishing original scholarly research that makes a genuine contribution to knowledge and is based on sound scientific methodology, with full adherence to the principles of research integrity and research ethics.

Submitted manuscripts must constitute original work that has not been previously published, in whole or in part, and must not be under consideration or review by any other journal or publishing entity at the time of submission.

Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy of the data, results, and conclusions presented in their research and for the integrity of all scholarly materials used therein.

6.2. Plagiarism Policy

The Journal rejects all forms of plagiarism, whether complete or partial, direct or indirect, including paraphrasing without proper attribution or the use of the work, ideas, data, or findings of others without appropriate acknowledgment in accordance with accepted scholarly standards.

All submitted manuscripts are subject to similarity screening using approved plagiarism detection software before being sent for peer review. Manuscripts may also be re-examined at any stage of the editorial process or after publication where necessary.

The Journal does not rely on a fixed numerical similarity percentage as the sole basis for editorial decisions. Similarity reports are assessed in light of the nature of the matching content, its sources, the context in which it is used, and its compliance with academic standards.

6.3. Forms of Research Misconduct

The Journal considers the following practices to constitute serious violations of research and publication ethics:

• Plagiarism.
• Fabrication of data or results.
• Falsification or misleading manipulation of data.
• Duplicate or redundant publication.
• Simultaneous submission to more than one journal.
• Citation manipulation.
• Failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
• Manipulation of images, figures, tables, or documents.
• The purchase or sale of research papers or the use of paper mills.
• The inclusion of individuals as authors without genuine scholarly contribution or the exclusion of individuals who qualify for authorship.
• Any other conduct that may compromise the integrity of the scholarly record.

6.4. Procedures When Misconduct Is Identified

If the Journal identifies a violation of research or publication ethics before or after publication, it shall take appropriate action in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Such action may include:

• Requesting clarification from the authors.
• Temporarily suspending the evaluation process.
• Rejecting the manuscript.
• Publishing a correction or clarification.
• Retracting a published article.
• Notifying the relevant academic institution or funding body where necessary.
• Taking any other action required to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

6.5. Use of Similarity Detection Software

The Journal uses iThenticate to screen manuscripts for textual similarity before the peer-review process begins.

The purpose of this screening is to protect intellectual property rights, ensure the originality of submitted research, and identify cases of improper attribution, duplicate publication, or other potential forms of misconduct.

A similarity report alone does not constitute the sole basis for an editorial decision. All reports are subject to scholarly assessment by the Editorial Board.

6.6. Authors' Responsibility

Authors bear full legal and ethical responsibility for the originality of their work and for all data and documents submitted to the Journal.

The submission of misleading information, the concealment of material facts, or the infringement of intellectual property rights constitutes a violation that may result in appropriate action under the Journal's policies.

7. Artificial Intelligence Policy

7.1. General Principles

İtkan Journal for Academic Research welcomes the responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies in supporting scholarly research, provided that their use does not compromise the originality, integrity, reliability of findings, or intellectual property rights associated with the research.

Authors remain fully responsible for all content submitted to the Journal, regardless of whether artificial intelligence tools or applications have been used in the preparation of the work.

7.2. Use of Artificial Intelligence by Authors

Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for supporting tasks, such as:

• Improving linguistic expression.
• Language and grammar checking.
• Organizing texts.
• Summarizing preliminary notes.
• Assisting with programming or data analysis, where appropriate.

Such tools must not be used in any manner that compromises research integrity or results in the production of undocumented, misleading, or academically unreliable research content.

7.3. Disclosure of Artificial Intelligence Use

Where artificial intelligence tools have been used substantially in the preparation of a manuscript, authors must clearly disclose such use in a separate section placed before the reference list, specifying:

• The name of the tool used.
• Its version, where applicable.
• The purpose for which it was used.
• The extent and limitations of its use in the preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure is not required for limited uses restricted to spelling or language checking or formatting assistance.

7.4. Artificial Intelligence and Authorship

No artificial intelligence system, application, or model may be listed as an author or co-author of any manuscript.

Authorship is limited to natural persons who meet the criteria for scholarly authorship and who assume full legal and ethical responsibility for the content of the research.

7.5. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors bear full responsibility for:

• The accuracy of the information presented in the research.
• The correctness of citations and references.
• The integrity of the analysis and conclusions.
• Respect for intellectual property rights.
• Reviewing all text that has been generated or modified with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools.

The use of artificial intelligence does not exempt authors from any scholarly, ethical, or legal responsibility.

7.6. AI-Generated Data and Images

Artificial intelligence-generated images, illustrations, tables, data, or other materials may not be used where their use may mislead readers, conceal their artificial origin, or infringe intellectual property rights.

Any visual, audio, or data-based materials generated or substantially modified using artificial intelligence must be disclosed where they form part of the research.

7.7. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Peer Review

Reviewers may not upload manuscripts, or any part thereof, to public artificial intelligence platforms or cloud-based services where doing so may disclose the content of the manuscript or compromise its confidentiality.

Artificial intelligence tools may not be used to generate peer-review reports or to make scholarly judgments or decisions on behalf of the reviewer.

Reviewers may use supporting tools that do not share manuscript content with external parties, provided that they remain fully responsible for the scholarly review report they submit.

7.8. Use of Artificial Intelligence by the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board may use artificial intelligence tools for administrative or technical purposes, such as:

• Improving linguistic expression.
• Checking formal consistency.
• Organizing metadata.
• Supporting administrative processes.

Such tools may not be used to make editorial decisions, evaluate the scholarly quality of manuscripts, or replace the scholarly judgment of editors.

7.9. Privacy and Confidentiality

All participants in the publishing process must refrain from using any artificial intelligence tool in a manner that may disclose the contents of unpublished manuscripts, confidential data, or the personal information of authors or reviewers.

All manuscripts shall be handled in accordance with the Journal's confidentiality policy. Manuscripts must not be entered into any system that may use them for training or reuse without explicit authorization.

7.10. Violations of the Artificial Intelligence Policy

Failure to disclose the substantial use of artificial intelligence, or the use of artificial intelligence in a manner involving deception or a violation of research integrity or intellectual property rights, constitutes a violation of the Journal's policies.

Such violations may result in:

• Requesting clarification from the authors.
• Requiring revisions to the manuscript.
• Rejecting the manuscript.
• Retracting the article after publication, where necessary.
• Taking any other appropriate action in accordance with COPE guidelines.

8. Research Data, Self-Archiving, and Digital Preservation Policy

8.1. Research Data Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research recognizes that the availability of research data, where appropriate, promotes transparency, supports the verification of research findings, and contributes to the advancement of scholarly knowledge and the responsible reuse of data.

The Journal encourages authors to preserve the data underlying their research and to make such data available whenever legally and ethically possible, provided that doing so does not compromise the confidentiality of information, intellectual property rights, or the privacy of individuals.

The Journal does not require authors to publish research data in all cases; however, it encourages authors to disclose how the data may be made available where appropriate.

8.2. Data Availability Statement

The Journal recommends that authors include a statement describing the availability status of the research data used in their study. Such a statement may take one of the following forms:

• The data are available in an open scholarly repository, with the relevant link or Digital Object Identifier (DOI) provided.
• The data are available from the corresponding author where there is a legitimate reason preventing their public disclosure.
• The data are not publicly available due to legal, ethical, or contractual considerations.
• Data-sharing requirements are not applicable to the nature of this research.

The Data Availability Statement should be accurate, clear, and appropriate to the nature of the study.

8.3. Data Confidentiality

Authors are required to protect all data relating to individuals, institutions, or entities involved in the research and must not publish confidential or personal information without obtaining the necessary legal and ethical approvals.

Any information that could lead to the identification of participants in a study must be removed or anonymized unless its disclosure is legally permitted and explicitly authorized.

8.4. Data Retention

The Journal recommends that authors retain the original data and supporting documentation underlying their research findings for an appropriate period after publication so that the data may be consulted where necessary to verify the findings or address scholarly or ethical concerns.

9. Self-Archiving Policy

The Journal encourages authors to deposit the published version of their articles in:

• University institutional repositories.
• Recognized research repositories.
• Personal academic websites.
• Non-commercial academic networks.
• Scholarly platforms permitted under the terms of the applicable license.

The published version may be deposited immediately upon publication without any embargo period, provided that the complete original publication details are acknowledged and a link to the article on the Journal's website is included whenever possible.

9.1. Citation Information

When depositing or sharing an article, the following information should be included:

• The name of the author or authors.
• The title of the article.
• The name of the Journal.
• The volume and issue number.
• The year of publication.
• The page numbers.
• The article's Digital Object Identifier (DOI), where available.
• A link to the article on the Journal's website.

This information helps ensure accurate scholarly citation and preserves the integrity of the academic record.

9.2. Digital Preservation Policy

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to preserving its published scholarly content and ensuring its long-term availability through the technical infrastructure provided by the DergiPark platform, which employs established systems for managing scholarly journals and preserving their data and digital archives.

The Journal also benefits from the digital preservation and archiving services provided through the DergiPark platform in accordance with its technical policies, thereby supporting the integrity of published files and metadata and ensuring continued access to them.

Where the DergiPark platform develops or updates its digital preservation systems, the Journal shall benefit from such services in accordance with best practices for long-term digital preservation.

9.3. Continued Access

The Journal is committed to maintaining access to all published articles and does not remove them from its website except in exceptional circumstances required by publication ethics, such as article retractions or corrections carried out in accordance with the applicable policies.

In all circumstances, the Journal seeks to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record by documenting any amendment, correction, or retraction and by not removing published content without providing appropriate information regarding the reasons for and actions taken.

9.4. Repositories and Indexing

The Journal seeks to make its content available through repositories, databases, and academic search engines that are compatible with its policies and licensing terms, thereby enhancing the dissemination, accessibility, and use of published research.

10. Digital Identifiers and Indexing Policy

The Journal seeks to ensure the accessibility and discoverability of published research and to facilitate scholarly citation through the use of international indexing and metadata standards available through the DergiPark platform.

The Journal is committed to making the bibliographic metadata of its articles available in accordance with international standards and to developing its presence in recognized databases, academic search engines, and scholarly repositories.

The Journal works to assign Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to published articles in accordance with the procedures adopted by the DergiPark platform and the organizations responsible for the registration of digital identifiers.

11. Corrections, Retractions, Expressions of Concern, and Post-Publication Updates Policy

11.1. General Principles

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and to taking appropriate measures to correct any errors or breaches that may be identified before or after publication, in accordance with the principles of fairness and transparency and the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The publication of an article does not mark the end of the responsibilities of either the Journal or the authors. Rather, their shared responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of published scholarly content continues after publication.

11.2. Corrections Policy

If an error is identified that affects the clarity or accuracy of an article but does not affect the validity of its principal findings or conclusions, the Journal may publish a Correction or Erratum explaining the nature of the error and the amendment made, with a link to the original article.

The original text shall remain available in order to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record, with a clear indication that a correction has been issued.

11.3. Retraction Policy

A published article may be retracted if a serious breach of publication or research ethics is established, including:

• Plagiarism.
• Data fabrication or falsification.
• Duplicate publication.
• Infringement of intellectual property rights.
• Serious errors that invalidate the findings.
• Any other breach warranting retraction in accordance with the guidelines of COPE.

When an article is retracted, it shall not be removed from the scholarly record. Instead, an official retraction notice shall be issued, stating the reason for and date of the retraction, while preserving the article's bibliographic information.

11.4. Expression of Concern

Where the Journal has serious indications of a potential ethical or scholarly breach and an investigation cannot be completed within a reasonable period, the Journal may publish an Expression of Concern to inform readers that an investigation is ongoing, pending a final decision.

11.5. Withdrawal of Manuscripts Before Publication

An author may request the withdrawal of a manuscript before a final editorial decision has been made, provided that a reasoned request is submitted to the Editorial Board.

A manuscript may not be withdrawn after it has been accepted for publication except for substantial scholarly or ethical reasons approved by the Editorial Board.

11.6. Post-Publication Updates

The Journal may update an article's metadata or add information relating to authors, digital identifiers, or electronic links where such updates do not affect the scholarly content of the article.

All updates shall be documented in a manner that ensures transparency and preserves the integrity of the scholarly record.

11.7. Authors' Responsibilities

Authors are required to notify the Editorial Board immediately upon discovering any significant error in their published work and to cooperate fully with the Journal in issuing a correction, retracting the article, or taking any other appropriate action.

12. Privacy and Data Protection Policy

12.1. General Principles

İtkan Journal for Academic Research is committed to protecting the privacy of all users, including authors, reviewers, members of the Editorial Board, and readers, and to processing personal data in accordance with the principles of lawfulness, transparency, and confidentiality, in compliance with applicable regulations and the policies of the DergiPark platform.

The data collected by the Journal are limited to the information necessary for managing the scholarly publishing process, improving the services provided, and ensuring the integrity of editorial procedures.

12.2. Data Collected by the Journal

The data collected through the Journal's system may include:

• Full name.
• Institutional affiliation.
• Email address.
• ORCID identifier, where available.
• Professional contact information.
• Information relating to submitted manuscripts.
• Reviewer information relating to the peer-review process.
• Technical data collected by the DergiPark system for the operation of the platform.

The Journal does not request personal data that are not directly related to the scholarly publishing process.

12.3. Use of Data

Personal data are used solely for the following purposes:

• Managing submission, peer-review, and publication processes.
• Communicating with authors and reviewers.
• Preparing bibliographic metadata for articles.
• Indexing scholarly content.
• Improving the Journal's technical services.
• Fulfilling legal and academic obligations.

Personal data shall not be used for commercial or marketing purposes outside the scope of the Journal's activities.

12.4. Confidentiality of Information

The Editorial Board is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of all data and documents relating to submitted manuscripts. Such information shall not be disclosed except to persons directly involved in the editorial and peer-review processes or where disclosure is required by a legal judgment or applicable regulation.

Reviewers are likewise required not to use, share, or retain any information relating to manuscripts outside the scope of the peer-review process.

12.5. Data Protection

The Journal, in cooperation with the DergiPark platform, takes appropriate technical and administrative measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, alteration, loss, or misuse.

User accounts and electronic data are managed in accordance with the security infrastructure adopted by the DergiPark platform, in line with best practices in information security.

12.6. Cookies

The Journal relies on the technical infrastructure provided by the DergiPark platform, which may use cookies or similar technologies to improve the user experience, manage user sessions, and ensure the efficient operation of the platform.

The Journal does not independently use cookies for advertising or marketing purposes. All related technical uses are subject to the privacy policies adopted by the DergiPark platform.

12.7. Data Sharing with Other Parties

The Journal does not disclose personal data to third parties except where such disclosure is:

• Necessary for the completion of publication or indexing procedures.
• Required by applicable laws or regulations.
• Based on the explicit consent of the data subject.

Any sharing of data with indexing services or technical service providers shall be limited to the minimum information necessary to achieve the purposes of scholarly publishing.

12.8. Rights of Data Subjects

Authors, reviewers, and members of the Editorial Board may request the updating or correction of their personal data where such data are inaccurate, either through their accounts on the DergiPark platform or by contacting the Journal's administration, in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures.

12.9. Data Retention

The Journal retains data relating to the scholarly publishing process to the extent necessary to preserve the academic record and ensure the integrity of the bibliographic metadata of published articles, while taking into account the archiving policies adopted by the DergiPark platform.

12.10. Applicable Regulatory Framework

With respect to data protection and privacy, the Journal complies with the technical, legal, and procedural policies adopted by the DergiPark platform. Use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the application of such policies, insofar as they do not conflict with the Journal's own policies and the principles of publication ethics.