Complaints and Appeals Policy

 

ALFIQH Islamic Law Review Journal is dedicated to maintaining its operations' highest standards of fairness, transparency, and integrity. This policy outlines the procedures for submitting and handling complaints and appeals related to the journal, including its staff, editorial board, and publisher. The journal adheres to the Core Practices as outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Types of Complaints

Complaints may encompass, but are not limited to, the following issues:

  • Allegations of research misconduct or ethical violations in published articles.
  • Claims of bias or unfair treatment by the editorial board or journal staff.
  • Disputes regarding the peer-review process.
  • Accusations of copyright infringement or plagiarism.
  • Concerns about conflicts of interest or undisclosed competing interests.

Submitting a Complaint

Complaints can be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, or any concerned parties via the journal’s contact email. Submissions should include:

  • The complainant’s contact information.
  • A detailed description of the complaint.
  • Any relevant supporting evidence or documentation.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

ALFIQH Islamic Law Review Journal is committed to protecting the confidentiality and anonymity of all parties involved. Complaints will be handled with strict confidentiality, and personal information will only be shared with individuals directly involved in the investigation.

Initial Assessment

Upon receipt, the editorial office will perform an initial assessment to determine the validity and seriousness of the complaint. Complaints outside the scope of this policy will be redirected to the appropriate authority, and the complainant will be notified.

Investigation Process

The editorial board will conduct a thorough investigation for valid complaints within the policy scope. This may involve:

  • Gathering additional information.
  • Consulting relevant parties.
  • Reviewing pertinent documentation.

Involvement of Editorial Board and Publisher

In cases involving the editorial board or publisher, steps will be taken to ensure impartiality, including excluding those individuals from the investigation process.

Resolution and Communication

ALFIQH Islamic Law Review Journal aims to resolve complaints promptly. Once the investigation concludes, the complainant will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken.

Appeals

If dissatisfied with the outcome, the complainant may submit an appeal. The appeal must:

  • State reasons for challenging the initial decision.
  • Provide any additional evidence or information.

Appeals Handling

An independent appeals committee, consisting of individuals not previously involved in the complaint, will review the appeal and conduct a fair and unbiased reassessment.

Final Decision

The appeals committee's decision is final. The outcome will be communicated to the complainant with a comprehensive explanation.

Public Transparency

To ensure transparency and accountability, the ALFIQH Islamic Law Review Journal will maintain a record of all complaints and their resolutions. Subject to privacy considerations, an anonymized record will be made publicly available on the journal’s website.

Review of Complaints and Appeals Policy

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with best practices. Any revisions will be communicated to stakeholders and published on the journal’s website.