Complaints and Appeals Policy

Complaints and Appeals Policy

The Journal is committed to providing a fair and transparent publishing environment for all stakeholders, including authors, reviewers, and readers. The Journal gives particular importance to addressing complaints related to the publication process or the conduct of any party involved in the editorial process.

Types of Complaints That May Be Submitted:

  • Unreasonable delay in the peer review process or decision-making.

  • Unprofessional conduct by a member of the Editorial Board or reviewers.

  • Clear bias or conflict of interest in the review process.

  • Issues related to academic integrity or plagiarism.

  • Technical failures affecting manuscript submission or review.

How to Submit a Complaint:

  • Complaints must be submitted via the Journal’s official email or delivered in written form by hand.

  • The complaint must include the following information:

    • Name and contact details of the complainant.

    • Title of the manuscript or type of issue.

    • A clear and detailed description of the complaint.

    • The desired outcome (e.g., resolution, clarification, review).

Complaint Handling Procedure:

  • An acknowledgment of receipt will be sent within one week.

  • The complaint is referred to the relevant authority within the Editorial Board or to the Editor-in-Chief.

  • The complaint is investigated with full confidentiality and impartiality.

  • A final response is sent to the complainant within 30 days of receipt. However, investigations may sometimes take several weeks or longer depending on the nature of the complaint and the availability of relevant data and information.

  • All complaints are treated with strict confidentiality.

Appeals Procedure Against Publication Decisions

The Journal adheres to the highest standards of integrity and transparency in all stages of the scholarly publishing process, including acceptance and rejection decisions. In recognition of the importance of fairness in research evaluation, the Journal allows authors the right to appeal a rejection decision if they believe it is unjustified.

Conditions for Submitting an Appeal:

An appeal must be based on objective grounds, such as:

  • A fundamental error in understanding the manuscript.

  • Clear bias in reviewer evaluation.

  • Presence of a conflict of interest.

  • Violation of agreed peer review procedures.

Appeal Submission Procedure:

  • An appeal request must be submitted in writing to the Editorial Board via the Journal’s official email or delivered by hand within 15 days of the rejection decision.

  • The request must include:

    • Manuscript title.

    • A detailed explanation of the reasons for the appeal.

    • If possible, a scholarly and objective response to reviewer comments.

  • The Editorial Board reviews the appeal internally and may consult additional independent reviewers if necessary.

  • A response to the appeal is issued within a maximum of three weeks from the date of receipt.

Final Decision:

The Editorial Board’s decision after reviewing the appeal is final and not subject to further appeal. All decisions are made in accordance with academic integrity and the Journal’s scholarly standards.