Post-Publication Discussion Policy

Post-Publication Discussion Policy

Bertuah: Jurnal Syariah dan Ekonomi Islam is committed to fostering transparent, constructive, and ethical scholarly discourse that extends beyond the point of publication. In accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal recognizes that scientific knowledge evolves through continuous critical engagement among scholars.

Post-publication discussion (PPD) is an integral component of the journal's commitment to academic integrity, research transparency, and the advancement of knowledge in the fields of Islamic law (syariah) and Islamic economics. Through this policy, the journal provides a legitimate and structured channel for the academic community to engage critically with published works.

2. Scope of Discussion

Bertuah welcomes the following forms of post-publication engagement:

  1. Letter to the Editor — A formal written response addressing specific issues, arguments, methodologies, or conclusions of a published article.
  2. Scholarly Commentary — An extended critical analysis that builds upon, challenges, or contextualizes a published work.
  3. Author's Response / Rejoinder — The original author's reply to any published critique or commentary.
  4. Notification of Errors or Misconduct — Reports of suspected factual errors, methodological flaws, data irregularities, plagiarism, or other forms of research misconduct.

3. Channels for Discussion

Post-publication discussion may be submitted through the following official channels:

  • The journal's Open Journal System (OJS) platform at ejournal.kampusmelayu.ac.id, under the designated section "Letter / Commentary".
  • The official editorial email of Bertuah.
  • Recognized external post-publication platforms (e.g., PubPeer), which the editorial team will monitor and respond to where appropriate.

Informal discussions on social media or non-academic platforms will not be considered part of the official record of post-publication discussion.

4. Submission Requirements

All submissions for post-publication discussion must meet the following criteria:

  1. Length: Maximum 1,500 words (excluding references).
  2. Identification: The sender must provide a full name, institutional affiliation, email address, and ORCID iD (if available). Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.
  3. Substantive Basis: The submission must be grounded in scholarly argumentation, empirical evidence, or sound reasoning. Personal attacks, speculative accusations, or non-academic grievances will be rejected.
  4. Conflict of Interest Declaration: Any potential conflict of interest with the author(s), institution(s), or subject matter of the original article must be fully disclosed.
  5. Language: Submissions may be written in English, Bahasa Indonesia, or Arabic.
  6. Reference to Original Article: The submission must clearly cite the original article, including the DOI, volume, issue, and page numbers.

5. Editorial Review Process

  1. Initial Screening: The Editor-in-Chief or a delegated section editor will conduct a preliminary assessment to determine whether the submission meets the journal's standards for scholarly discussion.
  2. Peer Review: Substantive commentaries may be subjected to peer review by independent experts.
  3. Editorial Decision: Possible outcomes include:
    • Accepted for publication
    • Accepted with revisions
    • Rejected (with reasoned explanation)
  4. Response Time: The editorial team will aim to issue an initial decision within four (4) to eight (8) weeks of submission.

6. Right of Reply

In accordance with COPE's principle of fair play:

  1. The author(s) of the original article will be formally notified of any accepted critique or commentary.
  2. The original author(s) shall be granted at least thirty (30) days to prepare a written response.
  3. Whenever possible, the commentary and the author's response will be published simultaneously in the same issue to preserve balanced scholarly dialogue.
  4. If the original author declines to respond, this will be noted in the published commentary.

7. Moderation Standards

Submissions will be rejected if they contain any of the following:

  • Ad hominem attacks or personal insults.
  • Non-scholarly, defamatory, or inflammatory language.
  • Allegations without substantive supporting evidence.
  • Content that violates Islamic ethical principles (akhlaq) and the values upheld by the journal.
  • Discriminatory content, including matters pertaining to ethnicity, religion, race, or social group (SARA).
  • Breach of confidentiality or privacy of third parties.

8. Linkage with Correction and Retraction

Where post-publication discussion reveals substantial errors, data fabrication, plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other forms of research misconduct, the matter will be escalated to the journal's Correction and Retraction Policy and Research Misconduct Policy. In such cases:

  1. The Editor-in-Chief will initiate a formal investigation in accordance with COPE flowcharts.
  2. The original author(s) will be given the opportunity to respond to the allegations.
  3. Depending on the findings, the journal may issue a Correction, Expression of Concern, or Retraction Notice.

9. Archiving and Permanent Record

  1. All published post-publication discussions become a permanent part of the scholarly record.
  2. Each published commentary, response, or letter will be assigned a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) where possible.
  3. Published discussions will be electronically linked to the original article so that readers can access the full exchange.
  4. Original articles will not be modified or withdrawn without a formal correction or retraction notice, in accordance with the preservation of scholarly integrity.

10. Confidentiality and Ethical Conduct

  1. The identity of individuals who report concerns in good faith will be handled with appropriate confidentiality during the editorial investigation.
  2. All parties involved in post-publication discussion — commentators, respondents, editors, and reviewers — are expected to uphold the principles of academic integrity, mutual respect, and fairness.
  3. The editorial team reserves the right to withdraw or amend any published discussion that is subsequently found to violate this policy.

11. Contact Information

All submissions and inquiries related to post-publication discussion should be directed to:

Editorial Office — Bertuah: Jurnal Syariah dan Ekonomi Islam 
Fakultas Syariah dan Ekonomi Islam
Institut Agama Islam Negeri Datuk Laksemana Bengkalis
Jln. Lembaga Senggoro Kecamatan Bengkalis, Kab. Bengkalis, Provinsi Riau, 28714
Email: bertuah.iainbengkalis@gmail.com
Website: https://ejournal.kampusmelayu.ac.id/index.php/Bertuah

This policy is adopted with reference to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and Guidelines on Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections.

Approved by the Editorial Board Bertuah: Jurnal Syariah dan Ekonomi Islam