Complaints Policy

 

The Journal of Legal and Political Sciences (Muthanna) is committed to providing a fair and accountable publishing environment that supports original and trustworthy research. The journal values feedback from readers, authors, and reviewers as part of its continuous efforts to improve quality and integrity.

Scope of Complaints

This policy covers complaints related to the journal’s publications or editorial processes, including but not limited to:

  • Research integrity concerns (plagiarism, fabrication, falsification).

  • Ethical concerns (conflicts of interest, unprofessional conduct).

  • Substantive errors in content or presentation.

  • Editorial and peer review process issues (unjustified delays, procedural irregularities, poor communication).

How to Submit a Complaint

Complaints should be submitted via the journal’s official email and must include:

  1. Complainant’s name and email address.

  2. Article title and/or DOI (if available).

  3. A clear and detailed description of the complaint.

  4. Supporting evidence where possible (links, documents, similarity reports, comparisons, etc.).

Confidentiality and Non-Retaliation

The journal treats complaints confidentially. The complainant’s identity will not be disclosed unless necessary to investigate or resolve the complaint. The journal does not tolerate retaliation against good-faith complainants.

Complaint Handling Procedure

  1. Acknowledgement: Receipt of the complaint will be confirmed within 7 days.

  2. Initial Assessment: The Editorial Board assesses whether the complaint falls within the scope of this policy and whether sufficient information is provided.

  3. Investigation: Where applicable, the journal gathers relevant information and may contact authors, reviewers, and other parties to ensure a fair right of reply.

  4. Decision: A decision is normally issued within 30 days; complex cases may require additional time, in which case the complainant will be informed.

Possible Outcomes

Depending on the findings, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

       - Dismiss the complaint due to insufficient evidence or no breach identified.

        - Request clarifications and/or corrections from the author(s).

         - Publish a Correction or Clarification where an error affects the scholarly record.

         -  Issue an Expression of Concern where serious doubts exist pending further verification.

          - Retract the article in cases of confirmed serious misconduct or ethical breaches.

Appeals

If the complainant disagrees with the outcome, an appeal may be submitted within 14 days of the decision. The journal will re-evaluate the case, preferably involving editorial members not directly responsible for the initial decision.

Policy Updates

This policy may be updated periodically to remain aligned with best practices in scholarly publishing.