Complaint and Appeal Policy

AL-ĪMĀN Research Journal (IRJ) is committed to handling complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, confidentially, and within a reasonable timeframe.

The journal provides authors and other relevant parties with an appropriate mechanism for raising concerns regarding the editorial, peer-review, publication, or ethical processes of the journal.

1. Scope

This policy applies to complaints and appeals concerning matters including:

  • Editorial decisions;

  • Peer-review procedures;

  • Delays in editorial or publication processes;

  • Publication charges;

  • Authorship and contributorship;

  • Conflicts of interest;

  • Publication ethics;

  • Research integrity;

  • Copyright and licensing;

  • Published articles;

  • Editorial conduct; and

  • Other matters relating to the journal's publishing process.

2. General Principles

Complaints and appeals will be handled according to the principles of:

  • Fairness;

  • Impartiality;

  • Confidentiality;

  • Transparency;

  • Respectful communication; and

  • Academic and editorial independence.

Submitting a complaint or appeal will not negatively affect an author's future submissions or legitimate participation in the journal's scholarly activities.

3. How to Submit a Complaint

Complaints should be submitted in writing to the editorial office of AL-ĪMĀN Research Journal (IRJ) through the official journal contact email: editor@alimanjournal.com

A complaint should, where applicable, include:

  • Name of the complainant;

  • Contact information;

  • Article title and manuscript or DOI information, if applicable;

  • A clear description of the complaint;

  • Relevant dates;

  • Supporting documents or evidence, where available; and

  • The action or resolution being requested.

Anonymous complaints may be considered where sufficient information is provided to allow the matter to be assessed appropriately.

4. Complaints Concerning Editorial Decisions

Authors who believe that an editorial decision was affected by a significant procedural error, misunderstanding, conflict of interest, or other relevant circumstance may submit a complaint or appeal.

Disagreement with the academic judgment of an editor or reviewer, without substantive grounds, does not by itself require reversal of an editorial decision.

The journal may reconsider a decision where credible evidence indicates that:

  • A significant procedural error occurred;

  • Relevant information was overlooked;

  • A serious conflict of interest affected the process;

  • The manuscript was assessed using an inappropriate criterion; or

  • Another material circumstance may have affected the fairness of the decision.

5. Appeals Against Editorial Decisions

An author may appeal an editorial decision by submitting a written appeal to the editorial office.

The appeal should clearly explain:

  • The manuscript concerned;

  • The decision being appealed;

  • The specific grounds for the appeal;

  • Any alleged procedural error or factual misunderstanding; and

  • Any supporting evidence.

An appeal should address substantive and relevant grounds rather than simply repeating arguments already considered during peer review.

6. Appeal Review

Appeals will be reviewed by the editor or another authorized editorial decision-maker who is not directly conflicted by the matter.

Where the original decision-maker has a conflict of interest, the appeal should be assigned to an independent editor or appropriate senior editorial authority.

Where necessary, the journal may seek an additional independent academic assessment before reaching a decision on the appeal.

7. Finality of Appeal Decisions

An appeal may result in:

  • Confirmation of the original decision;

  • Reconsideration of the manuscript;

  • Additional peer review;

  • Correction of a procedural error; or

  • Another appropriate editorial action.

The outcome of an appeal will be communicated to the author with an appropriate explanation.

The journal may consider an appeal decision final where the matter has been independently reviewed and no substantive procedural or ethical issue remains.

8. Complaints Concerning Peer Review

Complaints about peer review may include concerns regarding:

  • Reviewer conduct;

  • Confidentiality;

  • Conflict of interest;

  • Reviewer comments;

  • Undue delay;

  • Breach of anonymity; or

  • Other procedural concerns.

The journal will assess such complaints objectively.

Reviewer identities will remain confidential unless disclosure is required by applicable law or an appropriate ethical process.

9. Complaints Concerning Publication Ethics

Concerns involving plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, authorship disputes, unethical research, citation manipulation, or other publication-ethics matters will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy.

The journal may request supporting information, contact authors or institutions, seek independent advice, or take other appropriate action.

10. Complaints Concerning Conflicts of Interest

Where a complaint concerns an undisclosed or improperly managed conflict of interest involving an author, reviewer, editor, or other participant in the publication process, the journal will assess the matter in accordance with its Conflict of Interest and Funding Disclosure Policy.

Where necessary, the journal may assign the matter to an independent editorial decision-maker.

11. Complaints Concerning Publication Charges

Questions or complaints concerning publication charges will be assessed in accordance with the journal's Publication Charges Policy.

The journal's publication fee must not influence peer review or editorial decisions.

Any concern regarding an incorrectly applied charge will be reviewed by an appropriate member of the journal's administrative or editorial team.

12. Complaints Against an Editor or Editorial Board Member

Where a complaint concerns an editor or editorial board member, that individual should not be solely responsible for investigating or deciding the complaint.

The matter should be referred to another appropriate and independent editorial or management authority.

The person whose conduct is the subject of the complaint will have an opportunity to provide relevant information where appropriate.

13. Complaints Concerning the Publisher

Where a complaint concerns the publisher or a matter involving publisher interference with editorial independence, the journal will seek to ensure that the matter is reviewed by an appropriate independent editorial or management authority.

Editorial decisions should remain independent from commercial, financial, or other external influence.

14. Confidentiality

Complaints and appeals will be handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible.

Information will be shared only with individuals who need the information to assess, investigate, or resolve the matter.

The journal will take reasonable measures to protect personal information and confidential correspondence.

15. Protection Against Retaliation

Authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals who raise a legitimate complaint or ethical concern in good faith should not be subjected to retaliation or disadvantage because they raised the concern.

The journal expects all parties to communicate respectfully and professionally throughout the process.

16. Frivolous or Abusive Complaints

The journal may decline to pursue complaints that are clearly frivolous, abusive, threatening, repetitive without new information, or unrelated to the journal's publishing activities.

This provision will not prevent the journal from considering a legitimate complaint merely because it is critical of a journal decision or process.

17. Complaints Concerning Published Articles

Complaints or concerns regarding a published article may be submitted after publication.

Depending on the nature of the concern, the journal may:

  • Request clarification from the authors;

  • Seek additional evidence;

  • Consult independent experts;

  • Publish a correction;

  • Publish an Expression of Concern;

  • Retract the article; or

  • Take another appropriate action.

Such matters will be handled according to the journal's Corrections, Retractions and Post-Publication Policy.

18. Timely Handling

The journal will make reasonable efforts to acknowledge and assess complaints and appeals within an appropriate timeframe.

The time required may vary depending on the complexity of the matter, the need to obtain evidence, communication with authors or reviewers, or the need for independent assessment.

Where a matter requires additional time, the relevant party may be informed that the assessment is ongoing.

19. No Influence on Editorial Merit

A complaint or appeal will not result in preferential treatment of a manuscript.

Editorial decisions will continue to be based on academic quality, originality, relevance, research integrity, peer-review findings, and the journal's published policies.

20. External Guidance

Where appropriate, AL-ĪMĀN Research Journal (IRJ) may consider recognized publication-ethics guidance, including relevant principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), when handling complex complaints and appeals.

21. Policy Updates

This policy may be reviewed and updated when necessary to reflect developments in scholarly publishing, publication ethics, and best practices.

Any significant changes will be clearly stated on the journal's website.

Journal:
AL-ĪMĀN Research Journal (IRJ)

Publisher:
Hira Institute of Social Sciences Research & Development