A researcher in Turkey has lost seven papers about Islamic practices that he managed to publish in journals typically dedicated to childhood diseases.
Hüseyin Çaksen, of Necmettin Erbakan University, published the articles in the Journal of Pediatric Neurology, the Journal of Child Science, and the Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy, all Thieme titles. Feyza Çaksen is co-author of two.
The seven papers are:
- “The Importance of Religion, Spirituality, and Spiritual Care in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis,” published on May 22, 2023 in Journal of Pediatric Neurology
- “Hijab Protects Adolescent Girls and Women from Sexual Harassment,” published on May 26, 2023 in Journal of Pediatric Neurology
- “Islamic Psychology: Historical Notes from Herbert George Wells (1866–1946),” published on Nov. 16, 2022 in Journal of Pediatric Neurology
- “Marriage and Marital Fidelity in Interparental Relationship: A View from Religious Perspective,” published on May 4, 2023 in Journal of Child Science
- “The Role of Religious Coping in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” published on May 4, 2023 in Journal of Child Science
- “Ruqyah and Its Use among Patients with Cancer,” published on March 20, 2023 in Journal of Child Science
- “Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Oral Dextrose Gel and Tahneek Practice,” published in June 2023 in the Journal of Pediatric Epilepsy
All of the notices simply say the paper “has been retracted as it is lacking scientific base.” How that was missed in peer review is unclear.
The move came a day after Urartu Şeker, an academic in Ankara, Turkey, tweeted about some of the work:
That was followed by story about the articles in news outlet duvaR.English, which noted that Çaksen had also published “The Sacrifice of Ismail by His Father Ibrahim (Alayhi As-Salam): An Example of Surrender for Today’s Children and Parents,” in the Journal of Pediatric Neurology.
Neither Çaksen nor S. Burak Açıkel, the editor in chief of the journal, has responded to multiple requests for comment over the past several days.
Update, 1/13/23, 1400 UTC: Two other papers by Çaksen were also retracted:
- “Parents’ Supernatural Beliefs on Causes of Birth Defects: A Review from Islamic Perspective,” published in Journal of Pediatric Genetics
- “The Spiritual Dimension of Death: A Mini Review,” published in Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care
Necmettin Erbakan University has also issued a statement which reads, in part (translated from Turkish by Google Translate):
Being aware that the culture of criticism, which is the basis of scientific research, is a natural process that contributes to the progress of science, Prof. makes significant contributions to science with his studies in his field. Dr. It would be more appropriate to discuss the criticisms of the statements made by Hüseyin Çaksen in his article in his own media with the objection texts to be made to the publication in question.
Although we find it natural that all or a section of scientific studies have become a subject of discussion in the media, we would like to thank the scientific world, our University and our late Prime Minister Prof., whose name we are honored to bear. Dr. We submit to the public that it should not be evaluated through systematic disinformation activities targeting Necmettin Erbakan and the values he represents.
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“A researcher in Turkey…”
Referring to this guy a researcher is being pretty generous.
Spot on! It’s a shame altogether. A mega disaster.
not actually “reseacher” as he doesnt research something. he is just a pediatrician at the university hospital. still pretty awful
the article :(Neonatal Hypoglycemia: Oral Dextrose Gel and Tahneek Practice) address a common problem in neonates, and suggest a good solution drived from islamic practice that will help to resolve the problem,BUT anything that mention the great Islam should be retracted to satisfy atheist, infidel, and unbeliever.
At least one other paper from Hüseyin Çaksen has also just been retracted: “Parents’ Supernatural Beliefs on Causes of Birth Defects: A Review from Islamic Perspective” (https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0043-1774714)
The placebo effect is a wonderful thing, as long as you understand it is a “placebo effect.” By “you” I mean both the practitioner and the patient. Otherwise a fraud is being perpetrated on the patient.
If you want to convince people that something works, you need evidence. “It’s Islamic” is neither proof that a practice works, nor proof that it doesn’t. Muslims, like everyone else, are human and fallible.
Show us that it works, and yes give credit to the people who invented or improved the technique. Those newborn children are not believers, even if their parents are. If the technique works, by all means use it to help children, regardless of their parents’ beliefs or lack thereof. If it doesn’t work, don’t waste the time and resources of parents and medical staff.
Obviously, the guy has an opinion about COVID-19, and is eager to share his view with the world:
“We believe the COVID-19 outbreak is a general calamity given to people by Allah, from which no one can escape and be protected. It is a divine warning, a wrath, and torment.”
Doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1758450 (Journal of Child Science 2022; 12(01): e170-e171).
Çaksen sits on the Executive Committee [1] of the World Pediatric Society (WPS), which publishes all three of these journals.
In addition to the retracted articles, Çaksen has seven editorials in the most recent volume of the Journal of Child Science (Vol. 12), one in the same issue of the epilepsy journal as the retracted tahneek article, etc. All of them present various Islamic practices as part of pediatric healthcare.
WPS also claims to publish the Journal of Islam and Health, listing it on the journals page [2] and including a Thieme thumbnail. However, the journal description is lorem ipsum and Thieme has no journal with “Islam” in the title.
[1] http://www.worldpediatricsociety.org/committee.html, accessed 11 Jan 2024.
[2] http://www.worldpediatricsociety.org/journals.html, accessed 11 Jan 2024.
[3] http://worldpediatricsociety.org/jcs/index.html