Complaints and Appeals Policy

Penamas: Journal of Religious and Societies

Complaints and Appeals Policy

Penamas handles complaints and appeals fairly, confidentially, and without retaliation.

Policy Statement

Penamas takes complaints and appeals seriously. This policy follows the journal's Publication Ethics policy and COPE guidance. It explains how authors, reviewers, readers, and other parties can raise a concern about the journal's editorial process or conduct, and how authors can appeal an editorial decision.

1. What Can Be Raised

Complaints

Handling of a submission: delays, lack of communication, or failure to follow the stated process
Conduct of editors, reviewers, or staff: bias, conflicts of interest, or breach of confidentiality
Content of the journal, such as the accuracy of a published article
Other matters involving the journal's policies or ethics

Appeals

An editorial decision, usually a rejection
The author believes the decision rests on a factual mistake
The author believes the work was misunderstood
The author believes the review was unfair or biased

2. What Is Handled Elsewhere

Concerns about the content or conclusions of a published article: Post-Publication Discussion Policy
Suspected research misconduct, such as plagiarism, fabrication, or falsification: Research Misconduct procedure
Errors in published articles: Correction and Retraction Policy

3. How to Submit

Send a written message to the Editorial Office at penamasjurnal@gmail.com with the subject line "Complaint" or "Appeal – [manuscript ID or article title]". Include:

your name, affiliation, and contact details;
the manuscript ID or article title and DOI, where relevant;
a clear description of the issue, with supporting evidence;
for an appeal, the specific reasons why the decision should be reconsidered.

4. How Complaints Are Handled

5 steps

Receipt. The Editorial Office records the complaint and confirms receipt.

Initial assessment. The Editor-in-Chief, or another editor if the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief, checks whether the complaint is within scope.

Clarification. The people involved are asked to respond. Anyone with a conflict of interest does not take part.

Review. Where needed, an independent editor or expert reviews the case.

Decision and response. The complainant is told the outcome and the reasons. Corrective action is taken where the complaint is upheld.

5. How Appeals Are Handled

An appeal is considered only once for each decision, and only when it gives clear reasons, not simple disagreement.
The Editor-in-Chief reviews the appeal together with the review reports. A different editor or an additional independent reviewer may be asked to assess the manuscript.
The decision after an appeal is final. A manuscript that is rejected on appeal is not reconsidered again.
An appeal does not guarantee a change in the decision.

6. Independence, Confidentiality, and Fairness

Complaints and appeals are decided on scholarly and ethical grounds. The institution, nationality, seniority, or commercial interests of the parties are not considered.
Editors with a conflict of interest, or who were involved in the original decision, do not decide the matter alone.
Information is kept confidential and shared only with those who need it to resolve the case.
Penamas does not retaliate against anyone who raises a concern in good faith.

7. Outcomes

Depending on the case, the journal may dismiss the complaint with reasons, correct its process, give an apology, change an editorial decision, take action against a breach of ethics, or refer the case to the Research Misconduct procedure or the Correction and Retraction Policy.