University OF Alkafeel affirms that the purpose of organizing its periodic international scientific conferences, which are non-profit, is to promote rigorous scientific research, build bridges of academic cooperation with local and international institutions, and provide a scientific environment that enables researchers to publish their work in reputable global journals.

 The University is committed, in all its steps and procedures, to the highest standards of integrity, academic rigor, and intellectual honesty, placing the interests of researchers and the trust of the academic community at the forefront of its priorities. In this regard, the University wishes to clarify matters pertaining to its Fourth International Scientific Conference, held on December 20–21, 2022, as follows:

1. The conference was convened after obtaining the official approvals from the respected Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The research papers were evaluated with a high level of precision and academic rigor by specialized referees from within and outside Iraq, with the rejection rate exceeding 35%.

2. The University formalized an official agreement with the American journal AIP Conference Proceedings, indexed in the Scopus database, for the publication of the accepted papers. This agreement was secured prior to the conference and with the Ministry's approval.

3. Following the conclusion of the conference proceedings, the process of formatting the papers according to the journal's template commenced, undertaken by a special committee formed for this purpose. The University sent the 344 accepted papers to the journal on February 10, 2023, for review and scrutiny. Based on its own review process, the journal subsequently excluded 44 papers.

4. On October 18, 2023, the journal directly contacted the authorized lead author of each accepted paper to review the final version of their manuscript and to approve the copyright transfer. Thus, the final approval process for the papers was conducted directly between the researchers and the journal via its dedicated system.

5. On December 22, 2023, the journal published the accepted papers, which numbered 300 out of the 344 originally submitted.

6. Within less than 24 hours of publication, the University observed partial changes in the reference lists of 74 papers. The University immediately formed an investigative committee. Based on the committee's recommendations, the University took the following measures:

   a. Penalized those responsible, who were two members of the paper formatting committee. One was dismissed from the University, while the other had previously ended his service after being employed in another ministry through the Federal Public Service Council.

   b. The University informed the Ministry, the journal, and all affected researchers of the complete details of the incident.

   c. The university informed the Ministry, the journal, and all concerned researchers of the matter's details comprehensively

7. In September 2025, the journal proceeded to retract all published papers, attributing the reason to changes in the references. It stated the reason was an investigation led by the conference organizing body (University of Alkafeel) and the publishing body (AIP Journal), as documented on the journal's official website. It is important to note that the changes affected only some references in some papers, not all, and furthermore, these citations did not accrue benefit to the University.

8. Within less than 24 hours of the journal's action, the University formed a specialized team to follow up on the matter and dispatched a representative to the United States (where the journal is headquartered), submitting a formal objection. The objection was referred to a special committee, and the University awaits its final decision.

9. It is worth noting in this context that such corrective measures are not uncommon in reputable academic forums; rather, they demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the University's academic system and its self-monitoring. The actions taken by our university serve as a model to be emulated in the optimal application of integrity standards and confirm its steadfast commitment to safeguarding rights and upholding the highest values of academic rigor.

In conclusion, University of Alkafeel reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values of integrity, academic rigor, and honesty in all its academic, scientific, and administrative activities. It is determined to defend its rights and the rights of the researchers who participated in its conferences before any internal or external party. The University is also closely monitoring the progress of the investigation with the journal and will announce the results to the researchers immediately upon their issuance.

Presidency of Alkafeel University

October 25, 2025

* The University welcomes those wishing to learn about the entirety of the procedures followed to visit its main headquarters to directly review all official documents, procedural records, and copies of correspondence exchanged with the conference organizing body and the participating researchers.

* The University will exercise all its legal rights against any party that attempts to harm its reputation, undermine its standing, or cause any damage to its institutional image.