Handling of Complaints and Appeals

Ittesaal is committed to maintaining high ethical standards in all aspects of its editorial and publication processes. In accordance with the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal has established a transparent and structured procedure to address complaints regarding its processes, editorial decisions, or ethical concerns.

  1. Scope of Complaints

Complaints may be lodged by authors, reviewers, or readers if they believe that any action or decision by the journal—or by individuals associated with it—violates ethical standards or editorial integrity. Common issues may include, but are not limited to:

  • Unfair or biased handling of manuscripts
  • Undue publication delays
  • Breaches of confidentiality by reviewers
  • Perceived editor or reviewer bias
  • Misappropriation of ideas or data by editorial members
  • Suspected plagiarism, data fabrication, or citation manipulation in published articles

All complaints must be submitted in writing to the Editor-in-Chief, or to a designated ethics contact provided on the journal’s website. The complaint should be clearly articulated and, where possible, supported by relevant evidence.

  1. Complaint Review Procedure

Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the Editor-in-Chief will acknowledge the submission and initiate an impartial and confidential investigation. The journal is committed to addressing all concerns promptly and professionally.

The investigation may include the following steps:

  • Requesting a detailed account of the issue from the complainant
  • Collecting responses from involved parties (editors, reviewers, or authors)
  • Examining relevant documentation (e.g., submission logs, emails, peer review reports)
  • Consulting the COPE guidelines and flowcharts for similar cases to ensure adherence to international best practices

For example, if the issue involves suspected plagiarism or data manipulation, the journal will follow the applicable COPE protocol, which may include informing the author’s affiliated institution.

Both the complainant and the person(s) against whom the complaint is made will be given the opportunity to present their perspective. The process will be handled objectively, maintaining anonymity when required (e.g., for reviewers), with the aim of reaching a fair and evidence-based resolution.

  1. Resolution and Outcomes

Following a thorough review, the Editor-in-Chief will determine the appropriate course of action. Possible outcomes include:

  • If the complaint is upheld: Corrective measures may be taken, such as issuing a correction or retraction, amending procedures, issuing an apology, or removing the responsible party from their role (e.g., a reviewer or editor).
  • If the complaint is not substantiated: The Editor-in-Chief will inform the complainant, providing a rationale for the decision and clarifying that the conduct falls within acceptable editorial norms.

In all instances, the journal will communicate the outcome to the complainant in a timely and respectful manner. While complex cases may take longer to resolve—especially if external inquiries are involved—updates will be provided throughout the process as necessary.

  1. Appeals and Further Recourse

If the complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution provided by the Editor-in-Chief, they may escalate the matter to a higher authority, such as the publisher’s ethics committee (if applicable). As a COPE-compliant journal, Ittesaal remains open to third-party mediation by COPE in particularly difficult or contested ethical matters.