Retraction and Correction Policy
Yaqeen Journal for Legal Studies is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scientific record through clear policies for handling errors in published articles, in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Types of Corrections
1. Correction (Erratum)
Used to correct minor errors that do not affect the main results or conclusions, such as:
- Spelling or grammatical errors
- Errors in author names or affiliations
- Errors in tables or figures that do not affect interpretation
- Errors in the reference list
Procedure: Publish a correction notice linked to the original article, with an update to the electronic version.
2. Corrigendum
Used to correct significant errors that affect understanding of the research but do not invalidate the results, such as:
- Errors in data or calculations
- Methodological errors that do not invalidate results
- Failure to mention a funding source or conflict of interest
- Failure to mention a co-author
Procedure: Publish a detailed corrigendum explaining the error and its impact, and update the original article.
3. Retraction
Used in serious cases that completely invalidate the reliability of the research, such as:
- Plagiarism or copying
- Falsification or fabrication of data
- Duplicate publication of the same research
- Significant errors that invalidate results and conclusions
- Serious ethical violations
- Unethical research (e.g., failure to obtain required ethical approvals)
Procedure: Publish a detailed retraction notice with reasons, while keeping the original article available marked as "Retracted".
Correction Procedures
Minor Corrections
- Notification of the error by the author or reader
- Editorial board review of the alleged error
- Communication with authors for confirmation
- Publication of a correction notice within 2–4 weeks
- Update of the electronic version of the article
Major Corrections (Corrigenda)
- Notification of the error to the journal
- Detailed investigation by the editorial board
- Original or new reviewers may be consulted
- Communication with all authors
- Preparation of a detailed corrigendum
- Publication of the corrigendum within 4–8 weeks
Retraction Procedures
Initiating the Retraction Process
The retraction process may be initiated by:
- Request from the authors
- Complaint from a reader or researcher
- Discovery of a problem by the editorial board
- Notification from the author's institution
Investigation Steps
- Formation of an independent investigation committee
- Collection of all evidence and information
- Communication with authors to request clarifications
- Contact with the author's institution may occur
- Consultation with independent experts if necessary
- Final decision based on evidence
Retraction Notice
The retraction notice must include:
- Title of the retracted article and author names
- Original publication date
- Reasons for retraction clearly and in detail
- Who initiated the retraction (authors, journal, institution)
- Retraction date
After Retraction
- The article remains available on the website with a clear "Retracted" label
- The retraction notice is linked to the original article
- The DOI is updated to refer to the retraction
- Databases and indexes are notified of the retraction
- The article is not deleted from the website (for transparency)
Partial Retraction
In rare cases, only part of an article may be retracted if:
- The error is confined to a specific section
- The rest of the article is correct and of scientific value
- The problematic part can be clearly separated
Author Rights
- The right to provide clarifications before a retraction decision is made
- The right to appeal a retraction decision
- The right to request retraction of their article if they discover significant errors
Transparency
The journal is committed to:
- Full transparency in all retraction and correction cases
- Publishing all notices clearly and permanently
- Not deleting or hiding retracted articles
- Maintaining the complete scientific record