Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) journals are committed to upholding the highest standards of research integrity and academic honesty. Plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, and illicit image manipulation constitute grave academic misconduct that violates the fundamental principles of scholarly publishing.
This policy is grounded in recognized international standards, including the core practices and guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as the appropriation of another person's work, ideas, or words as one’s own without appropriate attribution. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
Copying text, tables, or illustrations from published sources—whether verbatim or paraphrased—without proper citation.
Substantially incorporating portions of previously published work without proper attribution.
Self-plagiarism (text-recycling or republishing the author’s own previously published work without disclosure or citation).
Plagiarism Detection
Umm Al-Qura University journals screen all submitted manuscripts using the specialized plagiarism detection platform, iThenticate.
If an unacceptably high similarity index is detected without adequate citation, the manuscript is referred to the Editorial Board for review.
In cases of minor text overlap, the author may be requested to revise and amend the manuscript.
In cases of clear, substantial plagiarism, the manuscript will be rejected, or a formal inquiry may be initiated.
Author Responsibilities
Accurately and comprehensively document all sources and references.
Adhere strictly to scholarly citation and referencing conventions when incorporating the words or ideas of others.
Refrain from reusing previously published work without explicit disclosure and appropriate attribution.
Data Fabrication and Falsification
Data fabrication refers to the unauthorized invention of data or results and presenting them as genuine. Data falsification entails manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or altering or omitting data to convey misleading findings. Examples include:
Fabricating or distorting data points.
Omitting critical data to bias or misrepresent findings.
Manipulating figures, charts, or study results.
Editorial Actions Regarding Data Fabrication and Falsification
Upon suspicion of data fabrication or falsification:
The manuscript will be rejected during peer review or retracted if already published.
The matter may be referred to the author’s affiliated institution for a formal investigation.
Authors found guilty of misconduct may face sanctions, including a publication ban on future submissions.
Image Manipulation
Unauthorized modification of images constitutes a breach of research integrity.
Acceptable Modifications:
Minor adjustments to brightness, contrast, or color balance applied uniformly across the entire image, provided that such adjustments do not obscure, eliminate, or misrepresent any scientific information present in the original.
Prohibited Modifications:
Selective enhancement, grouping, or shifting of image features without scientific justification.
Duplicating or reusing images across different experiments without full disclosure.
Fabricating images or distorting the underlying original data.
Author Responsibilities
Retain original, unprocessed image files and provide them upon request.
Explicitly describe any technical adjustments applied in the corresponding figure legend.
Clearly delineate the boundaries between different image components when composite figures are used.
Editorial Actions Regarding Suspected Image Manipulation
When image manipulation is suspected:
Authors will be required to provide the original, unedited raw data for verification.
The manuscript may be rejected, or retracted if already published and deliberate manipulation is confirmed.
Investigation Process
All suspected cases of misconduct are managed in accordance with the following principles:
Authors will be notified of the allegations and afforded a fair opportunity to respond.
Investigations will be conducted confidentially, promptly, and objectively.
Umm Al-Qura University journals adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines and flowcharts when investigating alleged publishing misconduct.
Outcomes may include manuscript rejection, publication retraction, or formal notification of the author’s host institution.
Appeals
Authors facing adverse decisions have the right to file a formal appeal against the determination.
Appeals must be submitted in writing within thirty (30) days of receiving the decision notice.
The appeal must provide clear justifications and substantive supporting evidence.
The appeal will be reviewed by an editorial board member who was not involved in the original investigation.
All appeal decisions are final and conclusive.
Retraction and Erratum Notices
When a published manuscript must be retracted due to confirmed academic misconduct:
A formal Retraction Notice will be published and bidirectionally linked to the original article, detailing the reason for the retraction.
The original article will remain accessible in the digital archive, marked with a prominent "RETRACTED" watermark across each page to preserve the historical academic record.
Retraction notices are made freely accessible, clearly stating whether the action was necessitated by honest scientific error or intentional academic misconduct.
Commitment to Research Integrity
Umm Al-Qura University journals reaffirm their unwavering dedication to safeguarding the integrity of the scholarly record, protecting researchers and readers from misleading content, and cultivating an ethical, transparent publishing environment.