JIBEP Policies

At JIBEP, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, transparency, and accessibility. All submissions, editorial processes, and publications are guided by clear and internationally recognized policies. Below is an overview of our core policies governing the journal.

🔍 Our Core Policies:

1. Publication Ethics

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) is fully committed to ethical publishing practices. In alignment with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), we uphold the highest standards of integrity across all stages of the publication process. These principles apply to authors, editors, reviewers, and all contributors involved in scholarly communication.

   Upholding ethical standards is essential for ensuring trust in academic publishing. JIBEP promotes responsible authorship, objective peer review, and editorial independence. We actively discourage misconduct and aim to safeguard the academic value of the work we publish.

   1.1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

   Authors must submit original manuscripts that have not been published or submitted elsewhere. All sources must be appropriately cited using the journal’s referencing style. Furthermore, authors must present their research accurately and honestly, without manipulation or omission of data.

   Each listed author should have contributed significantly to the research and must approve the final submission. Ghostwriting, honorary authorship, and duplicate submission are not acceptable. If the work involves human participants, authors must confirm that they received ethical approval from the appropriate review body.

   To promote transparency, authors must disclose all sources of funding, institutional affiliations, and any potential conflicts of interest.

   1.2. Responsibilities of Reviewers

   Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the quality of the journal. They must review submissions in a timely, impartial, and confidential manner. Comments should be constructive, respectful, and focused solely on academic merit.

   Reviewers may not use unpublished material from a manuscript for personal gain. If a reviewer identifies a conflict of interest or feels unqualified to assess a submission, they must notify the editor and decline the assignment.

   1.3. Editorial Integrity

   Editors are responsible for making fair and informed decisions on all submitted manuscripts. Decisions are based on scholarly merit and the relevance of the work to the journal’s scope. Editorial decisions are not influenced by personal, political, or commercial interests.

   To ensure fairness, JIBEP implements a double-blind peer review process. Editors ensure that this process is handled with confidentiality and without bias. They are also responsible for addressing ethical concerns, whether raised by authors, reviewers, or third parties.

   1.4. Handling of Misconduct and Corrections

   JIBEP takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. Suspected plagiarism, falsified data, or authorship manipulation will trigger a formal investigation. If ethical violations are confirmed, the journal may reject the manuscript, retract a published article, or publish a correction or expression of concern.

   All corrective actions are taken transparently and are linked to the original article when necessary.

   1.5. Ethical Oversight and Research Approval

   Authors conducting research involving human participants, interviews, surveys, or identifiable personal data must state whether they obtained ethical approval. The name of the approving institution and reference number (if applicable) should be included in the manuscript.

   JIBEP expects compliance with national and international research ethics. This includes responsible data collection, informed consent (where required), and the safeguarding of confidential information.

2. Plagiarism & Research Misconduct

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards all forms of academic misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, falsification, and unethical authorship practices. Upholding research integrity is central to our mission as an open-access, peer-reviewed journal serving the global academic community.

   To protect the quality and credibility of scholarly communication, all submitted manuscripts undergo a thorough ethical screening before being considered for peer review.

   2.1. Definition of Plagiarism

   Plagiarism involves presenting the ideas, words, data, or findings of another person as one’s own without proper attribution. This includes direct copying, close paraphrasing, or summarizing without adequate citation. It also covers the reuse of one’s previously published work without disclosure, commonly referred to as self-plagiarism.

   At JIBEP, we define plagiarism in accordance with the standards set by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Any degree of unacknowledged use of another’s work is treated as a serious violation of our publication ethics.

   2.2. Screening for Plagiarism

   All manuscripts submitted to JIBEP are screened using advanced plagiarism detection software prior to peer review. This screening is conducted as part of the initial editorial assessment.

   If significant overlap with previously published work is detected, the manuscript may be rejected immediately or returned to the author for revision. Minor similarities may be tolerated if the source is clearly cited and the reuse is justified.

   Authors are expected to review their manuscripts thoroughly and ensure all borrowed content is properly quoted, paraphrased, and referenced before submission.

   2.3. Research Misconduct Beyond Plagiarism

   In addition to plagiarism, JIBEP actively investigates other forms of misconduct, including:

   • Data fabrication or falsification
   • Duplicate or simultaneous submission to multiple journals
   • Improper authorship practices, including ghostwriting or gift authorship
   • Manipulation of citations for artificial inflation

   Any such behavior undermines academic trust and may lead to immediate rejection or post-publication retraction.

   2.4. Consequences of Misconduct

   When misconduct is identified, the journal follows a transparent and fair investigation process. Authors will be contacted for clarification and may be asked to respond to specific concerns raised by reviewers, editors, or plagiarism reports.

   If misconduct is confirmed:

   • The manuscript may be rejected or retracted
   • A formal notice of retraction or correction may be issued
   • The author’s institution may be notified
   • Future submissions may be barred

   These steps are taken to protect the academic record and preserve the journal’s integrity.

   2.5. Author Responsibility

   Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy and originality of their submissions. It is their duty to verify all content for proper citation and to ensure the manuscript complies with JIBEP’s ethical policies.

   Before submitting a manuscript, authors should:

   • Use reliable citation software
   • Review all sources and quotations
   • Check for unintentional overlap or improper paraphrasing
   • Ensure all listed authors have reviewed and approved the final version

3. Authorship & Contributions

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) upholds the ethical standards of authorship as defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). In line with these principles, JIBEP requires transparent and fair attribution of authorship to ensure that credit is accurately assigned and responsibility is appropriately shared across all research domains, including interdisciplinary and sustainability-related studies.

   3.1. Definition of Authorship

   Authorship must reflect a substantial intellectual contribution to the research. To be listed as an author, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:

   • Made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study

   • Participated in drafting, critically revising, or approving the manuscript for submission

   • Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work, including questions related to accuracy or integrity

   Individuals who do not meet all criteria but contributed in a limited capacity — such as data collection, editing, translation, technical support, or sustainability impact assessment assistance — should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section, not listed as authors.

   JIBEP strongly discourages guest, gift, and ghost authorship. Any instance of unethical authorship will be investigated and may result in rejection or post-publication correction or retraction.

   3.2. Authorship Order and Changes

   The order of authors should reflect the relative contribution of each person involved in the research and writing process. Any disputes regarding the order must be resolved internally by the authors prior to submission.

   Requests to add, remove, or reorder authors after submission must be formally justified and require written consent from all listed authors. Such changes will be considered only before the manuscript is accepted for publication.

   3.3. Equal Contributions and Group Authorship

   Where two or more authors have contributed equally, this should be explicitly stated using a footnote or author note.

   If a group name is used (e.g., a research team or institutional task force), the individual authors must still be listed, along with their roles. JIBEP does not allow anonymous authorship. All authors must be fully identified with their institutional affiliations and valid contact information.

   3.4. Author Contributions Statement (Recommended)

   While optional at present, JIBEP encourages submitting authors to include an “Author Contributions” section at the end of the manuscript. This statement should outline each author’s role in the project using standardized categories, such as:

   • Conceptualization

   • Methodology

   • Data collection and analysis

   • Writing – original draft

   • Writing – review and editing

   • Supervision

   • Funding acquisition

   • Sustainability impact evaluation (if applicable)

   This improves transparency and supports ethical recognition of diverse contributions, particularly in collaborative and interdisciplinary research.

   3.5. Disputes and Misconduct

   Any concerns regarding authorship manipulation, undisclosed contributors, or authorship disputes will be investigated by the editorial board in accordance with COPE guidelines. In confirmed cases of authorship misconduct, the journal reserves the right to reject the manuscript or retract the article if it has already been published.

4. Open Access Policy

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) is committed to promoting open access and ensuring that scholarly research is freely accessible to the global academic and professional community. As part of this mission, all articles published in JIBEP are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license.

   This open licensing model facilitates broad dissemination, legal reuse, and maximum visibility of research outputs — supporting global knowledge exchange, academic freedom, and the advancement of ethically responsible and sustainability-aligned research.

   4.1. Copyright Ownership

   Authors retain full copyright over their work published in JIBEP. Upon acceptance, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish, archive, and distribute the article in both print and digital formats.

   By retaining copyright, authors are free to:

   • Share and distribute their work on any platform

   • Reuse their content in books, presentations, and future research

   • Deposit the article in institutional repositories or personal websites

   JIBEP does not require copyright transfer. Instead, it empowers authors through an author-centered open-access model that respects intellectual property, promotes accessibility, and encourages wide dissemination of scholarly knowledge.

   4.2. Licensing Terms – CC BY 4.0

   All published content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license permits anyone to:

   • Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format

   • Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose — including commercial use

   As long as the following conditions are met:

   • Proper credit is given to the original author(s)

   • A link to the license is provided

   • Any modifications or adaptations are clearly indicated

   Users may not imply endorsement by the author(s) or by JIBEP without explicit written permission.

    Read the full license terms here

   4.3. Third-Party Material

   Authors are responsible for obtaining written permission to reuse any third-party materials included in their submissions (e.g., figures, tables, or copyrighted excerpts). These permissions must be documented and cited clearly within the manuscript.

   If any third-party content is not covered by the CC BY 4.0 license, this must be explicitly indicated in the caption or footnote of the respective material.

   4.4. License Declaration

   All published articles will include the following license statement at the bottom of the full-text version (PDF and online):

   “This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).”

5. Submission Fee & Refund Policy

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) is an open-access academic journal that operates without commercial sponsorship. To support editorial and publishing costs, the journal charges a submission fee that enables the continuation of peer-reviewed, accessible scholarship in the field of Islamic finance and economics.

   5.1. Submission Fee Structure

   The standard submission fee is £200 for manuscripts up to 15 pages (A4, including all content). For manuscripts exceeding this limit, an additional charge of £15 per page applies.

   JIBEP offers a 10% discount for registered students.
   To qualify for the discount, student authors must upload valid student identification at the time of submission. The discount will be applied manually, and instructions will be sent via email before payment is finalized.

   5.2. What the Submission Fee Covers

   The submission fee supports:

   • Editorial management and initial manuscript screening
   • Double-blind peer review coordination
   • Open-access hosting and long-term archiving
   • Copyediting and metadata formatting
   • Web and platform maintenance

   No additional article processing charge (APC) is collected after acceptance. The submission fee is the only required payment for the complete publishing process.

   5.3. Refund Policy

   Submission fees are generally non-refundable. However, a partial or full refund may be considered under the following conditions:

   • Duplicate payments caused by system error
   • Administrative desk rejection before peer review begins
   • Author withdrawal within 48 hours of submission and before the manuscript is sent for review

   All refund requests must be submitted in writing to editor@jibep.org, along with a reason, submission ID, and payment receipt.

   5.4. Institutional Support and Invoicing

   Authors affiliated with funded research or institutions may request formal invoices or receipts. Please contact the editorial finance team prior to submission for such documentation.

   At this time, the journal does not offer additional waivers or fee reductions, except for the student discount as stated above.

6. Repository Policy

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) allows authors to deposit versions of their work in institutional, subject, or personal repositories, in accordance with our open access policy.

   • Pre-print (Author’s Original Version): Authors may deposit the original version of the manuscript prior to peer review in institutional or subject repositories.
   • Post-print (Author’s Accepted Manuscript): Authors may deposit the accepted, peer-reviewed version of their manuscript in institutional or subject repositories immediately after acceptance.
   • Published Version (Version of Record): Authors may deposit the final published PDF, with DOI, in institutional, subject, or personal repositories immediately upon publication.

   All deposited versions should include a proper citation to the published article in JIBEP and a link to the article’s DOI on the journal’s official website.

   This policy is fully aligned with open access best practices (DOAJ and COPE) and supports the free circulation of scholarly knowledge.

7. Archiving Policy

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) ensures long-term preservation and permanent accessibility of all published content through multiple archiving systems:

   • PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN): All published articles are automatically preserved within the PKP PN, providing secure and decentralized digital archiving.
   • LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe): The journal content is archived via the LOCKSS program to ensure permanent preservation and accessibility through participating libraries.
   • CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS): The journal is also preserved in the CLOCKSS system, which guarantees long-term survival of scholarly content and provides open access in the event of a trigger event.

   In addition to these preservation networks, all published articles are assigned Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) via Crossref to guarantee persistent citation and referencing.

   These measures ensure that JIBEP content remains accessible to the global scholarly community regardless of future technical or operational circumstances.

8. Manuscript Formatting Guide

   To ensure consistency, clarity, and ease of review, authors submitting to the Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) must adhere to the formatting specifications outlined below. Proper formatting supports the efficiency of the editorial and peer review process and contributes to the professional presentation of published research.

   All manuscripts must be prepared using Microsoft Word and formatted on A4-sized pages. Authors should use a clear, readable font, appropriate spacing, and consistent citation styles throughout the document. Non-compliance with these standards may result in desk rejection or processing delays.

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   8.1. Page Layout and Structure

   • Document Size: A4

   • Margins: 1 inch (2.54 cm) on all sides

   • Font: Times New Roman or a similar serif font

   • Font Size: 11 pt for main text

   • Line Spacing: 1.5 throughout (including references)

   • Paragraphs: Justified alignment with first-line indent (0.5 inch)

   • Page Numbering: Bottom center on each page

   The main manuscript file must not contain any author-identifying information. All submissions must be fully anonymized to enable double-blind peer review. A separate title page must include:

   • Manuscript title

   • Full names of all authors

   • Institutional affiliations

   • Email addresses

   8.2 Section Headings

   Headings must be clearly defined, consistently styled, and logically ordered. Use the following hierarchy:

   • Main Headings – Bold, 12 pt, left aligned

   • Subheadings – Bold, 11 pt, left aligned

   • Sub-subheadings – Italic, 11 pt, left aligned

   Use headings to guide the reader through the structure and arguments of the paper.

   8.3 Tables and Figures

   • Tables and figures must be numbered sequentially (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1)

   • Table titles should be placed above the table

   • Figure captions should appear below the figure

   • Use concise, descriptive titles that reflect the content clearly

   • Sources must be cited directly under each table or figure, where applicable

   • Avoid unnecessary shading or excessive formatting to preserve visual clarity

   8.4. Citations and References

   JIBEP uses the APA 7th Edition referencing style. Ensure consistency between in-text citations and the reference list. Use the author–date format for in-text citations (e.g., Khan, 2021).

   The reference list should:

   • Be alphabetically ordered by the surname of the first author

   • Use hanging indents (0.5 inch)

   • Maintain 1.5 line spacing

   • Follow APA punctuation, italics, and capitalization rules precisely

   8.5. File Naming and Submission Format

   • Name the manuscript file as follows: Lastname_ShortTitle_Year.docx

     • Example: Raza_Islamic_Banking_Risks_2025.docx

   • Accepted formats: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)

   • PDF versions are accepted for initial submission but must be resubmitted in Word format after acceptance

   Authors must ensure that the manuscript conforms to the 15-page standard limit unless prior communication has been made with the editorial team. Additional charges apply for exceeding this limit, as detailed in the Author Guidelines.

    

   9. Peer Review Process

   The Journal of Islamic Banking, Economics and Policy (JIBEP) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and scholarly rigor. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo a structured double-blind peer review process, ensuring impartiality, confidentiality, and fairness in the evaluation of submitted work.

   In the double-blind system, both reviewers and authors remain anonymous throughout the process. This approach helps eliminate potential bias and promotes objective assessment based solely on the academic merit and contribution of the manuscript.

   9.1. Initial Editorial Screening

   Upon submission, each manuscript is first assessed by the editorial office to verify that it meets the journal’s:

   • Scope of research

   • Submission and formatting guidelines

   • Ethical compliance standards

   Manuscripts that do not fulfill these baseline requirements may be desk rejected without further review. Those that pass the screening are assigned to at least two independent peer reviewers with relevant subject-matter expertise.

   9.2. Reviewer Selection and Responsibilities

   Reviewers are carefully selected based on their academic background, subject knowledge, and experience in scholarly publishing. They are responsible for evaluating the manuscript against several core criteria, including:

   • Originality and novelty

   • Methodological robustness

   • Theoretical and practical contribution

   • Clarity and organization

   • Relevance to Islamic banking, finance, economics, sustainability, or policy

   • Adherence to ethical research practices

   Reviewers submit written feedback and recommend one of the following outcomes:

   • Accept as is

   • Accept with minor revisions

   • Request major revisions

   • Reject

   Final decisions are made by the editorial board after a full review of the referee reports.

   9.3. Review Timeline

   JIBEP aims to complete the initial peer review within 4 to 6 weeks of reviewer assignment. Authors will receive:

   • A decision notification

   • Anonymized reviewer comments

   • Specific revision instructions (if applicable)

   For revised manuscripts, the editorial team may either:

   • Return the manuscript to the original reviewers

   • Conduct an internal editorial review, depending on the extent of changes

   9.4. Final Decision and Post-Review

   Once a manuscript has successfully passed peer review and all required revisions have been submitted, the editorial board issues a final publication decision. Accepted papers are then forwarded for copyediting, formatting, and publication in the next scheduled issue.

   Authors are expected to address all reviewer comments thoroughly and respectfully. Failure to respond or revise within the stated timeframe may result in withdrawal from the review process.

   9.5. Confidentiality and Ethics

   All manuscripts under review are treated as strictly confidential. Reviewers are required to:

   • Maintain full confidentiality

   • Avoid using or sharing manuscript content prior to publication

   • Disclose any conflicts of interest

   JIBEP adheres to the ethical review and editorial standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), ensuring that peer review is conducted with transparency, accountability, and fairness.

   10. Application Processing Charges (APC)

   At JIBEP, we are committed to ensuring open, inclusive, and sustainability-oriented access to high-quality scholarly research in Islamic banking, finance, economics, and public policy. To maintain rigorous editorial and production standards while supporting our open-access model, the following Article Processing Charges (APCs) apply to accepted submissions:

   10.1. Standard APC

   £200

   This charge covers manuscripts up to 15 formatted pages (including references, tables, and figures). It includes:

   • Double-blind peer review

   • Editorial handling and correspondence

   • Typesetting, copyediting, and PDF layout

   • Online publication and permanent open-access hosting

   • DOI registration and metadata indexing

   • Long-term digital preservation for sustainability-aligned research outputs

   10.2. Additional Pages

   £15 per extra page
   Manuscripts exceeding 15 pages will be charged £15 for each additional page.

   10.3. Discounts for Students

   We proudly support early-career researchers. A 10% discount on the total APC is available for currently enrolled students. Proof of student status (e.g., valid student ID or enrolment letter) is required at the time of submission.

   10.4. Payment Instructions

   Payment is due only after acceptance of the article. Authors will receive an invoice with instructions for payment via:

   • Stripe (credit/debit card)

   • PayPal

   • Direct bank transfer (on request)

   Please note: APCs must be paid in full before the article is prepared for final publication.

   10.5. Waiver Policy

   At this stage, JIBEP does not offer full waivers. However, partial fee reductions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for authors from low-income countries or researchers working on sustainability and social justice topics.
   Please contact the editorial team at editor@jibep.org before submitting your manuscript if you wish to request a discount.

   10.6. Why APCs?

   JIBEP is an independent, open-access journal with no institutional backing. APCs allow us to cover core publishing costs while keeping all content freely available for the global academic and professional community. This supports our mission to champion ethical, accessible, and inclusive scholarship, including research aligned with UN SDGs, environmental impact, and Islamic finance ethics.