PLAGIARISM POLICY

The Al-Najam Journal of Medical and Life Sciences (ANJMLS) is committed to maintaining academic integrity, protecting the originality of scholarly work, and preserving the reliability of the scientific record.

Commitment and Scope

The Al-Najam Journal of Medical and Life Sciences (ANJMLS) maintains a strict policy of academic integrity and originality. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all submitted manuscripts are original and that the work of other researchers is appropriately acknowledged and cited.

Prohibited Practices: Plagiarism, substantial unattributed text copying, inappropriate text recycling, duplicate or redundant publication, undisclosed translated publication, fabrication or falsification of material, and unjustified fragmentation of research ("salami slicing") are considered unacceptable. Manuscripts containing substantial unacknowledged material from previously published or unpublished sources may be rejected and may be subject to further editorial action.

Screening and Similarity Index

Every manuscript submitted to the Al-Najam Journal of Medical and Life Sciences (ANJMLS) is subject to textual originality screening using the Turnitin platform or another recognized similarity-detection system before undergoing external peer review. Additional screening may be conducted at any stage of editorial processing, including during revision or after acceptance, where concerns arise.

⚠️ Hard Threshold Limit
Overall similarity index must be less than or equal to 19%. Single source similarity must be less than 5%. The 19% allowance is strictly a similarity index intended to account for necessary technical terms, common phrasing, and essential connections to existing literature.
A cumulative Similarity Index (SI) of 20% or higher will result in formal return to the authors for comprehensive structural revisions.
Permissible Exclusions

Similarity calculation exclusions are strictly limited to appropriately and properly credited material, including properly cited quotations, bibliographic reference paths, standard methodology phrases, scientific formulas, and official institutional names. Such exclusions do not permit authors to reproduce substantial portions of previously published work without appropriate attribution.

Important: The Similarity Index is an editorial screening measure and does not replace editorial judgment. Any submission containing unacknowledged copying, substantial unattributed reproduction, or deliberate manipulation intended to mislead similarity-detection systems may be rejected regardless of the reported similarity percentage.

Editorial Assessment of Similarity Reports

ANJMLS evaluates similarity reports in conjunction with editorial assessment. The Editorial Office may examine the individual sources contributing to the Similarity Index, the location and extent of the overlapping material, the nature of the wording, the presence or absence of appropriate citations, and whether the overlap represents legitimate scientific or technical language.

Authors must not attempt to artificially reduce the Similarity Index by manipulating manuscript formatting, replacing words without addressing the underlying attribution issue, removing legitimate references, altering document structure, or using other techniques intended to circumvent similarity-detection systems.

Investigation and Editorial Actions

Where substantial plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, duplicate publication, or deliberate manipulation of the similarity-screening process is identified, ANJMLS may initiate an editorial investigation. The investigation may include examination of the similarity report, comparison with the original sources, consultation with editors or subject experts, and communication with the corresponding author.

Where appropriate, the corresponding author may be given an opportunity to provide a written explanation and supporting documentation. Depending on the circumstances, the journal may also communicate with the authors' institutions, funding organizations, or other relevant authorities.

Depending on the nature, extent, and outcome of the investigation, ANJMLS may take one or more of the following actions:

  • • Request clarification, rewriting, correction, or additional documentation from the authors.
  • • Return the manuscript to the authors for substantial structural or textual revision.
  • • Reject a manuscript where plagiarism, unacceptable duplication, or deliberate manipulation is established.
  • • Issue a correction, clarification, or other appropriate editorial notice where necessary.
  • • Retract a published article where serious plagiarism or duplication has materially compromised the integrity of the published record.
  • • Notify the relevant institution, funder, or responsible authority where serious or confirmed misconduct warrants such notification.

Duplicate Publication, Text Recycling and Translations

ANJMLS does not accept manuscripts that substantially duplicate previously published work or that are simultaneously submitted to another journal. Authors must disclose any closely related publications, preprints, conference papers, datasets, reports, or manuscripts that may create concerns regarding redundant publication.

Text Recycling: Limited reuse of an author's previously published wording may occasionally be unavoidable, particularly in descriptions of established methods or background information. However, substantial or inappropriate reuse without disclosure and proper citation may constitute unacceptable text recycling and may result in editorial action.
Translated Publications: Manuscripts substantially based on work previously published in another language must be transparently disclosed. A translated article may only be considered where the prior publication is fully cited, applicable permissions or rights have been addressed, and there is a legitimate scholarly justification for republication. Translation must not be used to conceal duplicate publication.

Post-Publication Plagiarism

Plagiarism concerns may be investigated even after an article has been published. ANJMLS may review allegations received from readers, authors, reviewers, institutions, or other credible sources and will assess the available evidence objectively and confidentially.

Correction, Expression of Concern or Retraction: Where a post-publication investigation establishes significant plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other serious misconduct affecting the integrity of the scholarly record, ANJMLS may publish an appropriate correction, Expression of Concern, or retraction notice in accordance with recognized publication-ethics principles.

Authors' Responsibility

Authors are ultimately responsible for ensuring the originality and appropriate attribution of all material submitted to ANJMLS. Before submission, authors should carefully review their manuscript, accurately cite the work of others, obtain permissions where required, disclose related publications, and ensure that the manuscript is not under simultaneous consideration elsewhere.

Authors are also responsible for reviewing the Similarity Report where requested by the Editorial Office and for making substantive corrections when overlapping material is identified. Reducing a similarity percentage without addressing the underlying attribution or originality concern does not satisfy the journal's requirements.

Reporting Suspected Plagiarism

Authors, reviewers, editors, and readers are encouraged to report credible concerns regarding plagiarism, duplicate publication, inappropriate text recycling, or other forms of publication misconduct to the ANJMLS Editorial Office.

Good-Faith Reporting: ANJMLS treats allegations of plagiarism seriously while maintaining confidentiality and procedural fairness. Individuals who raise concerns in good faith should not be subject to retaliation. Allegations are assessed on the available evidence and are not considered established misconduct until an appropriate editorial assessment or investigation has been completed.