Qubahan Engineering Journal (QENGJ) provides authors, reviewers, readers, editors, institutions, and other stakeholders with a transparent mechanism for submitting legitimate complaints and appealing editorial decisions.

Complaints and appeals are handled fairly, professionally, confidentially, and independently wherever possible.

Editorial Appeals

Authors may appeal an editorial decision when they believe that a significant factual, procedural, or scholarly issue materially affected the outcome.

An appeal should:

• Clearly identify the manuscript;

• State the editorial decision being appealed;

• Explain the specific grounds for appeal;

• Address relevant reviewer or editor comments;

• Identify any significant factual or procedural error; and

• Provide supporting evidence where appropriate.

Mere disagreement with an editorial decision is not, by itself, sufficient grounds for an appeal.

Appeal Period

Appeals should normally be submitted within 30 days of the editorial decision.

Appeals received after this period may be considered where exceptional circumstances exist.

Assessment of Appeals

An appeal may be reviewed by:

• The Editor-in-Chief;

• A senior editor who was not responsible for the original decision; or

• Another appropriately qualified independent editor.

Where necessary, the journal may seek:

• Additional peer review;

• Independent methodological assessment;

• Ethical advice; or

• Specialist technical evaluation.

An appeal does not guarantee reconsideration or acceptance.

The decision reached after the formal appeal process is normally considered final within the journal's internal editorial procedure.

Complaints

Complaints may concern:

• Editorial procedures;

• Peer-review conduct;

• Excessive or unexplained delays;

• Publication ethics;

• Conflicts of interest;

• Reviewer behavior;

• Editorial conduct;

• Editorial Board conduct;

• Published content;

• Research-integrity concerns;

• Article Processing Charges;

• Copyright;

• Licensing;

• Privacy;

• Technical services; or

• Other aspects of journal operation.

Submitting a Complaint

A complaint should:

• Clearly identify the issue;

• Provide relevant facts;

• Include supporting documentation where available;

• Identify the manuscript or article where applicable; and

• Be written in professional language.

Anonymous complaints may be considered where they contain sufficient credible evidence to permit meaningful investigation.

Complaints Concerning the Editor-in-Chief

Where a complaint directly concerns the Editor-in-Chief or where the Editor-in-Chief has a significant conflict of interest, the matter should be handled by:

• The publisher; or

• Another independent senior person who was not involved in the disputed matter.

The Editor-in-Chief should not be solely responsible for deciding a complaint concerning their own conduct.

Conflicts of Interest

A person directly involved in the issue under complaint should not be solely responsible for investigating or determining the outcome.

Where necessary, an independent editor or external adviser may be appointed.

Research-Integrity Complaints

Complaints involving suspected:

• Plagiarism;

• Data fabrication;

• Data falsification;

• Authorship misconduct;

• Peer-review manipulation;

• Citation manipulation;

• Ethical violations; or

• Other research misconduct

will be considered under the journal's Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy.

Where appropriate, QENGJ may contact:

• Authors;

• Institutions;

• Ethics committees;

• Funding organizations;

• Other publishers; or

• Relevant authorities.

Confidentiality

Complaints and appeals will be handled as confidentially as reasonably possible.

Information may be shared with relevant persons or organizations where necessary for a fair and responsible investigation.

Good-Faith Concerns

Individuals who raise legitimate concerns in good faith should not be subjected to retaliation by the journal.

Knowingly false, malicious, abusive, or defamatory complaints may be dismissed where there is no credible supporting basis.

Communication of Outcome

The journal should communicate the outcome of a complaint or appeal to the person who submitted it, subject to confidentiality, privacy, legal, and research-integrity limitations.