Complaints & Appeals
Al-Mawarid: Jurnal Syariah dan Hukum is committed to providing a fair, transparent, and accountable process for handling complaints and appeals. This policy outlines the procedures for submitting complaints against the journal, its staff, editorial board, or publisher, as well as the process for handling appeals. The journal ensures that all complaints are addressed promptly, impartially, and with due consideration to maintain the integrity of its scholarly publications. The journal follows the Core Practices established by 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 or unfair treatment by the editorial board or journal staff.
- Disputes related to the peer-review process.
- Allegations of copyright infringement or plagiarism.
- Concerns regarding conflicts of interest or undisclosed competing interests.
Submitting a Complaint
Authors, reviewers, readers, or other concerned parties may submit complaints regarding any aspect of the journal’s operations via the official contact email. Submissions should include the complainant’s contact information, a detailed description of the issue, and any relevant supporting evidence or documentation.
Confidentiality and Anonymity
The journal recognizes the importance of protecting the confidentiality and anonymity of both the complainant and the individuals involved. All complaints will be handled in strict confidence, and personal information will only be disclosed to those directly involved in the investigation.
Initial Assessment
Upon receiving a complaint, the editorial office will conduct an initial assessment to determine its validity and seriousness. If the complaint falls outside the scope of this policy, the complainant will be informed and, where possible, directed to the appropriate authority.
Investigation Process
If a complaint is deemed valid and within scope, the editorial board will initiate a thorough investigation. This may involve collecting additional information, consulting relevant parties, and reviewing pertinent documentation.
Involvement of Editorial Board and Publisher
If the complaint involves members of the editorial board or the publisher, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that those individuals are excluded from the investigation process to maintain impartiality.
Resolution and Communication
The journal will make every effort to resolve complaints in a timely manner. Upon completion of the investigation, the complainant will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken.
Appeals
If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome, they may submit an appeal. The appeal must clearly state the grounds for challenging the decision and include any additional supporting evidence.
Appeals Handling
An independent appeals committee, composed of individuals not previously involved in the case, will review the appeal. The committee will conduct a fair and unbiased reassessment of the complaint.
Final Decision
The decision of the appeals committee is final. The journal will communicate the outcome to the complainant, providing a clear and comprehensive explanation.
Public Transparency
To ensure transparency and accountability, the journal will maintain a record of all complaints, including their resolution and any actions taken. An anonymized version of this record may be made publicly available on the journal’s website, subject to privacy and confidentiality considerations.
Review of Complaints and Appeals Policy
This policy will be periodically reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness and alignment with best practices. Any revisions will be communicated to stakeholders and published on the journal’s website.