Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism Policy

The Mustansiriyah Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (MJPAS) is committed to publishing original, high-quality research. We strictly prohibit all forms of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism (text-recycling), data fabrication, and the unacknowledged appropriation of others' ideas, text, or results.

Plagiarism Detection via Turnitin

To ensure academic integrity and comply with international open-access publishing standards, MJPAS actively screens all submissions for originality. We utilize Turnitin similarity detection software. Every submitted manuscript undergoes a rigorous plagiarism check by our editorial team before it is permitted to enter the Double-Blind Peer Review process.

Acceptable Similarity Threshold

Authors must ensure their work is entirely original. When submitting to MJPAS, the following thresholds apply:

  • The overall similarity index must not exceed 20%.
  • The similarity match from any single individual source must not exceed 5%.
  • Properly formatted block quotes and the Reference/Bibliography section are excluded from the similarity percentage calculations.

Note: If a manuscript is derived from an author's previously published thesis or dissertation, this must be explicitly stated in the cover letter upon submission.

Consequences of Plagiarism

MJPAS takes academic misconduct very seriously. The following actions will be taken if plagiarism is detected:

  • During Initial Screening: If a manuscript exceeds the acceptable similarity threshold upon submission, it will be immediately desk-rejected. The corresponding author will be notified and provided with a summary of the Turnitin report.
  • During Peer Review: If reviewers or editors identify plagiarized concepts, stolen methodologies, or uncredited translations that software algorithms might miss, the review process will be permanently halted, and the paper will be rejected.
  • After Publication: If plagiarism is discovered and proven after an article has already been published, MJPAS reserves the right to formally retract the paper. The PDF will be removed or watermarked, a formal retraction notice will be published on the journal's website, and the authors' affiliated institutions or funding bodies may be notified of the ethical breach.