Complaints and Appeals

Al-‘Arabiyya: Journal of Arabic Language, Literature, and Pedagogy is committed to maintaining a fair, transparent, and accountable process for handling complaints and appeals. This policy outlines the procedures for submitting complaints concerning the journal, its editorial board, reviewers, or publisher, as well as the process for managing appeals. The journal adheres to the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Types of Complaints

Complaints may include, but are not limited to:

• Allegations of research misconduct or ethical violations in published articles.
• Claims of bias, unfair treatment, or misconduct by editors, reviewers, or journal staff.
• Disputes related to the peer-review or editorial decision-making process.
• Allegations of plagiarism or copyright infringement.
• Concerns regarding undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Submitting a Complaint

Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, readers, or other stakeholders via the journal’s official contact email. The complaint should include contact details, a clear description of the issue, and any supporting evidence where available.

Confidentiality and Anonymity

All complaints will be handled with confidentiality and, where possible, anonymity for both the complainant and the individuals involved. Information will be shared only with those directly responsible for investigating and resolving the complaint.

Initial Assessment

The editorial office will conduct an initial assessment to determine the validity and scope of the complaint. If the issue falls outside the journal’s remit, the complainant will be informed and, where appropriate, referred to the relevant authority.

Investigation Process

Valid complaints will be investigated thoroughly, which may involve gathering additional information, consulting relevant parties, and reviewing related documentation.

Involvement of the Editorial Board and Publisher

When a complaint involves members of the editorial board or the publisher, appropriate steps will be taken to ensure independence and impartiality in the investigation process.

Resolution and Communication

The journal will seek to resolve complaints in a timely manner and will inform the complainant of the outcome and any actions taken, subject to confidentiality requirements.

Appeals

If a complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution, an appeal may be submitted with a clear explanation of the grounds for appeal and any additional supporting evidence.

Appeals Handling

Appeals will be reviewed by an independent panel or committee not previously involved in the case, ensuring a fair and objective reassessment.

Final Decision

The decision of the appeals panel will be final. The outcome will be communicated to the complainant with an appropriate explanation.

Public Transparency

The journal will maintain anonymized records of complaints and their resolutions for internal review and accountability, in accordance with data protection and privacy considerations.

Review of the Policy

This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with best practices in scholarly publishing. Any updates will be published on the journal’s website.