Corrections, Retractions, Withdrawals and Appeals

Research Journal Al-Qamar is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, transparency, and reliability of the scholarly record. The journal recognizes that, in academic publishing, errors, ethical concerns, authorship issues, data problems, or editorial disputes may arise before or after publication. Such matters are handled carefully, fairly, and according to responsible publication ethics.

This policy explains how the journal deals with corrections, retractions, withdrawals, and appeals related to submitted, accepted, or published manuscripts.

Purpose of This Policy

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all published content in Research Journal Al-Qamar remains trustworthy, accurate, and ethically sound. When a problem is identified in a manuscript or published article, the journal may take appropriate action depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

Possible actions may include:

  1. Minor correction
  2. Major correction
  3. Editorial note
  4. Expression of concern
  5. Withdrawal of manuscript
  6. Retraction of published article
  7. Rejection after investigation
  8. Appeal review
  9. Communication with authors or institutions
  10. Post-publication clarification

The journal aims to protect both academic integrity and the rights of authors through a fair and documented process.

Corrections

A correction is issued when an error is found in a published article but the main findings, argument, originality, and academic validity of the work remain reliable.

Corrections may be required for:

  1. Typographical mistakes
  2. Author name errors
  3. Affiliation errors
  4. Mistakes in abstract or keywords
  5. Incorrect page numbers
  6. Minor reference errors
  7. Formatting or layout problems
  8. Incorrect DOI or article link
  9. Minor table or figure errors
  10. Minor translation or transliteration mistakes
  11. Errors that do not affect the main argument or conclusion

Corrections are made to improve the accuracy of the published record.

Types of Corrections

The journal may issue different types of corrections according to the nature of the error.

Minor Corrections

Minor corrections may include spelling mistakes, typographical errors, formatting problems, punctuation errors, or minor metadata corrections. These may be corrected by the editorial office without issuing a formal correction notice if they do not affect the academic meaning of the article.

Major Corrections

Major corrections may be required when the error affects understanding, citation, interpretation, author information, data presentation, references, or important details in the article. In such cases, the journal may publish a formal correction notice linked to the original article.

Author Correction

An author correction may be issued when the authors identify an error in their own published work and request correction with proper explanation and evidence.

Editorial Correction

An editorial correction may be issued when the journal identifies an error introduced during editing, formatting, typesetting, production, metadata entry, or online publication.

Correction Request Procedure

Authors who identify an error in their published article should contact the editorial office as soon as possible. The correction request should clearly mention:

  1. Article title
  2. Author name
  3. Volume and issue number
  4. Year of publication
  5. DOI or article link, where available
  6. Exact location of the error
  7. Corrected text or information
  8. Explanation of the correction
  9. Supporting evidence, where required

The editorial office will review the request and decide whether the correction is minor, major, or not required.

Retractions

A retraction is a formal notice that a published article should no longer be considered part of the reliable scholarly record. Retraction is a serious action and is taken only when there is clear evidence that the article contains major errors, serious ethical problems, or unreliable findings.

A published article may be retracted if it contains:

  1. Plagiarism
  2. Fabricated or falsified data
  3. Serious methodological error
  4. Duplicate publication
  5. Unethical research practice
  6. Fake or manipulated references
  7. False authorship claims
  8. Unauthorized use of copyrighted material
  9. Serious conflict of interest not disclosed
  10. Misleading or manipulated findings
  11. Submission without approval of all authors
  12. Significant error that invalidates the findings
  13. Evidence of peer review manipulation
  14. Misuse of AI-generated or fabricated content
  15. Legal or ethical violation affecting the publication

Retraction does not necessarily mean that all authors acted with misconduct. In some cases, retraction may result from honest error. However, the purpose of retraction is to correct the scholarly record.

Retraction Process

When a serious concern is raised about a published article, the journal may conduct an editorial investigation. The process may include:

  1. Initial review of the complaint or concern
  2. Examination of the article and supporting evidence
  3. Contacting the corresponding author
  4. Requesting explanation from all authors, where necessary
  5. Consulting reviewers, editors, or subject experts
  6. Checking plagiarism or similarity reports
  7. Verifying references, data, permissions, or ethical approvals
  8. Contacting the author’s institution, where required
  9. Editorial Board review
  10. Final decision by the Editor-in-Chief or competent editorial authority

If retraction is approved, the journal may publish a retraction notice explaining the reason for retraction in a clear and responsible manner.

Retraction Notice

A retraction notice should normally include:

  1. Title of the retracted article
  2. Author name or names
  3. Publication details
  4. Reason for retraction
  5. Party initiating the retraction, where appropriate
  6. Date of retraction
  7. Link to the original article, where available

The original article may remain available online with a clear retraction mark or notice, so that the scholarly record remains transparent.

Expression of Concern

In some cases, the journal may receive serious allegations about a published article but the investigation may not yet be complete. If there is a substantial concern regarding the reliability, ethics, or integrity of the article, the journal may issue an Expression of Concern.

An Expression of Concern may be issued when:

  1. There is unresolved evidence of possible misconduct.
  2. The authors do not provide sufficient clarification.
  3. Institutional investigation is pending.
  4. There are serious doubts about data, authorship, originality, or ethics.
  5. The matter requires time for proper investigation.

An Expression of Concern is not a final decision. It informs readers that the article is under review for possible issues.

Withdrawal of Manuscripts Before Publication

Withdrawal applies mainly to manuscripts that have been submitted, are under review, accepted, or in production but have not yet been formally published.

Authors may request withdrawal of a manuscript by submitting a written request to the editorial office. The request must include:

  1. Manuscript title
  2. Submission ID, where available
  3. Author names
  4. Reason for withdrawal
  5. Written consent of all authors
  6. Signature or confirmation of the corresponding author

A manuscript should not be withdrawn without a valid reason, especially after peer review, acceptance, copyediting, or production work has begun.

Valid Reasons for Withdrawal

The journal may consider withdrawal requests in cases such as:

  1. Serious error discovered by the authors
  2. Ethical issue requiring correction before future submission
  3. Authorship dispute
  4. Duplicate submission discovered by mistake
  5. Legal or permission issue
  6. Serious data or reference problem
  7. Author’s inability to complete required revisions
  8. Other genuine academic or ethical reasons

The final decision regarding withdrawal rests with the editorial office.

Unethical Withdrawal

Withdrawal may be considered unethical if authors attempt to withdraw a manuscript after peer review or acceptance only to submit it elsewhere without proper explanation. Authors should not use the journal’s editorial and review process for informal feedback and then withdraw the manuscript for another venue.

Unethical withdrawal may include:

  1. Withdrawal after acceptance without valid reason
  2. Submission to another journal while under review
  3. Withdrawal to avoid responding to reviewer comments
  4. Withdrawal after production work has been completed
  5. Non-response after acceptance or proof stage
  6. Duplicate submission during the review process

The journal may keep a record of such cases and may decline future submissions from the same authors where necessary.

Withdrawal by the Journal

The journal may withdraw a manuscript from consideration before publication if it finds:

  1. Plagiarism
  2. Duplicate submission
  3. Fabricated data
  4. False authorship information
  5. Failure to respond to editorial queries
  6. Ethical approval problems
  7. Conflict of interest not disclosed
  8. Misconduct during peer review
  9. Legal or copyright concerns
  10. Violation of journal policy

In such cases, the author will be informed of the reason for withdrawal or rejection.

Post-Publication Updates

In certain cases, a published article may require updating without full retraction. The journal may issue a correction, clarification, editorial note, or updated version if the matter does not invalidate the article.

Post-publication updates may relate to:

  1. Metadata correction
  2. Author affiliation correction
  3. Reference correction
  4. Funding information
  5. Conflict of interest disclosure
  6. Author contribution clarification
  7. Minor factual correction
  8. Production-related error
  9. Supplementary file correction

Any update will be handled in a transparent manner.

Appeals

Authors have the right to appeal an editorial decision if they believe that the decision was based on misunderstanding, procedural error, factual mistake, conflict of interest, or unfair evaluation. Appeals are considered carefully, but submission of an appeal does not guarantee acceptance or reversal of the decision.

Appeals may be submitted in cases involving:

  1. Rejection of manuscript
  2. Disagreement with reviewer comments
  3. Dispute over editorial decision
  4. Delay or procedural concern
  5. Correction request not accepted
  6. Retraction or withdrawal decision
  7. Authorship-related editorial decision
  8. Ethical or publication-related concern

The appeal must be respectful, evidence-based, and professionally written.

Grounds for Appeal

A valid appeal should normally explain:

  1. Why the author believes the decision was incorrect
  2. Which reviewer or editorial comments are being challenged
  3. What factual or procedural error occurred
  4. What evidence supports the appeal
  5. How the manuscript meets the journal’s academic standards
  6. Whether any revisions have been made or are proposed

Appeals based only on disagreement, emotional response, personal dissatisfaction, or request for reconsideration without evidence may not be entertained.

Appeal Submission Procedure

Appeals should be submitted in writing to the relevant office of the journal or institute. Authors should include complete details so that the case can be reviewed properly.

An appeal should include:

  1. Manuscript title
  2. Submission ID, where available
  3. Author name and affiliation
  4. Corresponding author email
  5. Date of original decision
  6. Reason for appeal
  7. Clear explanation of the concern
  8. Supporting documents or evidence
  9. Response to reviewer/editor comments, where relevant
  10. Requested action

Appeals should be submitted within a reasonable time after the editorial decision.

Where to Send Appeals

Appeals, complaints, correction requests, withdrawal requests, or publication-related concerns may be sent to the following official contacts:

Department of Publication and Communication
Al-Qamar Islamic Research Institute
Email: publications@aqiri.org
Email: communication@aqiri.org

Authors may also contact:

Editor-in-Chief
Research Journal Al-Qamar
Email: editor@alqamarjournal.com

Authors should use clear subject lines, such as:

Appeal Against Editorial Decision – [Manuscript Title]
Correction Request – [Article Title]
Withdrawal Request – [Manuscript Title]
Retraction Concern – [Article Title]
Publication Ethics Concern – [Article Title]

Appeal Review Process

After receiving an appeal, the journal may follow the process below:

  1. Acknowledgment of appeal
  2. Initial review by the editorial office
  3. Examination of the original decision and reviewer reports
  4. Review of the author’s appeal statement
  5. Consultation with the Editor-in-Chief
  6. Possible review by another editor or expert
  7. Possible request for additional clarification
  8. Final decision on the appeal

The possible outcomes of an appeal may include:

  1. Original decision upheld
  2. Manuscript reconsidered
  3. Additional review requested
  4. Revised manuscript invited
  5. Correction approved
  6. Retraction or withdrawal decision revised
  7. Appeal declined due to insufficient grounds

The decision after appeal is normally considered final.

Complaints and Publication Ethics Concerns

Readers, reviewers, authors, editors, or institutions may report concerns about a manuscript or published article. Such concerns may relate to plagiarism, duplicate publication, data integrity, authorship, citation manipulation, conflict of interest, unethical research, or misrepresentation.

All complaints should be submitted with clear evidence. Anonymous complaints may be considered only if they include sufficient documentation and raise a serious ethical issue.

Fairness and Confidentiality

The journal aims to handle corrections, retractions, withdrawals, and appeals fairly and confidentially. Personal attacks, defamatory language, pressure tactics, or threats will not influence editorial decisions.

During investigation, the journal may maintain confidentiality as far as possible. However, relevant information may be shared with authors, editors, reviewers, institutions, or legal authorities where necessary.

Author Cooperation

Authors are expected to cooperate with the journal in all matters related to corrections, retractions, withdrawals, appeals, and publication ethics. Authors must respond honestly and promptly to editorial queries.

Failure to cooperate may result in:

  1. Delay in processing
  2. Rejection of manuscript
  3. Withdrawal from consideration
  4. Publication of editorial notice
  5. Retraction of article
  6. Notification to institution
  7. Restriction on future submissions

No Guarantee of Acceptance Through Appeal

An appeal is a request for reconsideration, not a guarantee of acceptance. The journal may uphold the original decision if the appeal does not provide sufficient academic, ethical, or procedural grounds.

The editorial decision will remain based on:

  1. Originality
  2. Academic quality
  3. Relevance to journal scope
  4. Methodological strength
  5. Ethical compliance
  6. Reviewer evaluation
  7. Editorial judgment
  8. Publication standards

Final Statement

By submitting a manuscript to Research Journal Al-Qamar, authors agree to follow the journal’s policies regarding corrections, retractions, withdrawals, appeals, publication ethics, authorship, plagiarism, and editorial decisions.

Research Journal Al-Qamar is committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and ensuring that all correction, retraction, withdrawal, and appeal matters are handled with fairness, transparency, and academic responsibility.