Publication Ethics and Policies
Hayat Journal (HJ) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. The journal follows the guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) to ensure that all manuscripts are handled responsibly, transparently, and ethically throughout the publication process.
Our editorial process is designed to maintain the quality and credibility of scientific content by preventing plagiarism, redundant publication, data manipulation, and unethical authorship practices.
Plagiarism
Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are entirely original and that any use of others’ work is properly cited. Plagiarism in any form — including copying text, data, figures, or ideas without attribution — is strictly prohibited. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarized material, whether from published or unpublished sources, will be rejected immediately.
Duplicate Submission
Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time is considered unethical publishing behavior. Manuscripts found to be under review or published elsewhere will be deemed duplicate submissions and rejected from further consideration.
Duplicate Publication
Duplicate publication occurs when an author republishes the same study, data, or conclusions without clear reference to the original publication. Such practices are not acceptable, as they mislead readers and distort the scientific record.
Redundant Publication
Redundant publication refers to the submission or publication of work that substantially overlaps with already published material, without acknowledgment or justification. Authors should ensure that each manuscript represents a distinct and meaningful contribution to existing literature.
Data Fabrication and Falsification
Authors must present their research findings truthfully. Data fabrication (making up data or results) and data falsification (manipulating research processes or omitting conflicting data without valid justification) are serious ethical breaches. Manuscripts found to involve falsified or fabricated data will be rejected, and further actions may be taken against the authors.
Improper Authorship and Contributorship
Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research study. All those who have contributed substantially should be listed as co-authors, while others who assisted in research or editing should be acknowledged appropriately. Misrepresentation of authorship is considered unethical and may result in manuscript rejection.
Citation Manipulation
Authors should cite relevant literature genuinely and avoid adding excessive or irrelevant citations with the intention of artificially increasing the citation count of a specific author or journal. Citation manipulation undermines the integrity of academic research and will not be tolerated.
Ethical Violations and Consequences
If a manuscript or published article is found to have violated any of the above ethical policies, Hayat Journal reserves the right to take one or more of the following actions:
Rejection or retraction of the infringing manuscript.
Rejection of any other manuscripts submitted by the same authors.
Prohibition of the authors from submitting new manuscripts to Hayat Journal for a minimum period of three years.
Prohibition of the authors from serving on the editorial or review board for a minimum period of three years.
Hayat Journal maintains a zero-tolerance policy for unethical publication practices to preserve the credibility, transparency, and trust of the academic community.