Retraction & Correction Policy

Taro Gau: Journal of Islamic Studies is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. We follow the COPE Retraction Guidelines to handle corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern.

We understand that authors work carefully on their manuscripts. However, extraordinary circumstances may require an article to be corrected or retracted after publication to maintain scientific authority.

Article Retraction

Retraction is a mechanism for correcting the literature and alerting readers to publications that contain such seriously flawed or erroneous data that their findings and conclusions cannot be relied upon. Articles may be retracted if:

  • There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable, either as a result of misconduct (e.g., data fabrication) or honest error (e.g., miscalculation).
  • The findings have previously been published elsewhere without proper attribution or permission (redundant publication).
  • It constitutes plagiarism or reports unethical research.

Article Correction

Taro Gau distinguishes between two types of corrections to notify readers of important errors that do not invalidate the entire paper:

Category Description
Erratum Notification of a significant error made by the journal/publisher during the production process.
Corrigendum Notification of an important error made by the authors that affects the scientific integrity or reputation.
Addendum An addition to the article by its authors to explain inconsistencies or provide updates to the information.

Article Removal & Replacement

  • Removal: In extremely limited cases (legal reasons, court orders, or defamatory content), an article may be removed. The metadata will be retained, but the text will be replaced with a screen indicating the legal removal.
  • Replacement: If an article poses a serious risk (e.g., incorrect religious or legal guidance that may lead to harm), authors may retract the flawed original and replace it with a corrected version linked to the retraction notice.

The Process

The final decision regarding corrections or retractions rests with the Editor-in-Chief, often following an investigation and consultation with the Editorial Board. Once decided:

  1. A retraction/correction statement will be published in the next available issue.
  2. A link will be provided to the original article, which will be clearly marked as "Retracted" or "Corrected" in PDF and HTML versions.