Citation Policy

The Al-Mustansiriyah Journal of Science is committed to promoting ethical and responsible citation practices that uphold the integrity and transparency of scholarly publishing. Authors are expected to acknowledge all sources accurately and appropriately, including their own previously published work when relevant. Direct quotations, reproduced materials, and ideas derived from other sources must be clearly identified and properly cited.

References should be selected solely based on their scientific relevance and contribution to the manuscript. Authors should cite only sources they have read and verified, and ensure that all references accurately support the statements made in the manuscript. Excessive self-citation, preferential citation of collaborators, institutions, or specific journals, and the citation of irrelevant references intended to increase citation metrics are considered unethical and are not permitted.

The Journal strictly prohibits all forms of citation manipulation, including citation stacking, coercive citation, excessive self-citation, and the deliberate inclusion of irrelevant references to influence citation-based indicators. Citation practices are evaluated during the editorial and peer-review processes, and any suspected unethical citation behavior will be investigated in accordance with the journal's ethical policies and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Where unethical citation practices are confirmed, the journal may request revisions, reject the manuscript, or, in the case of published articles, issue a correction or retraction as appropriate.