Published by Lumina Literati Publishing | Expert Analysis
URGENT ADVISORY: Cloned Academic Journals Impersonating Al-Qanṭara
Protect Your Research: A Guide to Identifying Fraudulent Publishers
In the world of academic publishing, reputation is paramount. Scholars dedicate their careers to producing rigorous, meaningful research, and the journals they publish in are a testament to that work’s quality. It is with grave concern, therefore, that our team of independent academic experts at Lumina Literati Publishing has confirmed the existence of sophisticated **clone journals** actively impersonating the highly respected Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) publication, Al-Qanṭara.
These deceptive websites are predatory in nature, designed to mislead researchers, compromise academic integrity, and extract publication fees under false pretenses. This article serves as a critical alert and a comprehensive guide to help scholars, librarians, and institutions distinguish the authentic journal from these dangerous fakes.
The Legacy of the Authentic Al-Qanṭara
To understand the deception, one must first appreciate the genuine article. The authentic Al-Qanṭara: Revista de Estudios Árabes is a cornerstone in its field. Here are its defining characteristics:
- Esteemed History: Published by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Al-Qanṭara began in 1980 as a direct successor to the seminal journal Al-Andalus (1933-1978).
- Scholarly Focus: Its scope is dedicated to the civilization of classical Islam (up to and including the 17th century), with a pronounced focus on the Islamic West.
- Publication Model: It releases two fascicles annually. Crucially, the journal only solicits contributions for its special monographic sections, which appear in the second fascicle of each year. It does not accept unsolicited general submissions.
- The Only Real Website: The sole official online home for the journal is hosted on the CSIC’s portal: https://al-qantara.revistas.csic.es/
Warning: Confirmed Clone Journals Exposed
Our investigation has identified the following websites as fraudulent clones of Al-Qanṭara. They are not affiliated with CSIC in any way and should be avoided entirely. They currently rank high in search results, posing a significant risk.
- High-Risk Clone #1:
alqantarajournal.com - High-Risk Clone #2:
al-qantara-revistascsic.com
Do not submit manuscripts, pay fees, or provide personal information to these websites. They are engaged in a practice known as “journal hijacking.”
Quick Comparison: Authentic Journal vs. The Fakes
Use this table as a rapid verification tool. The differences are stark when laid out side-by-side.
| Attribute | Authentic Al-Qanṭara (CSIC) | Clone/Fake Journals |
|---|---|---|
| Official Website | https://al-qantara.revistas.csic.es/ |
alqantarajournal.comal-qantara-revistascsic.com |
| Publisher | Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) | Obscure, unnamed, or falsely claimed entities. |
| Submission Policy | Only solicits contributions for specific monographic sections. No open calls for general papers. | Aggressively solicits all types of manuscripts with promises of rapid publication. |
| Contact & Domain | Official CSIC email addresses and a government/research council domain (.csic.es). |
Uses generic Gmail addresses and commercial (.com) domains designed to mimic the real one. |
| Peer Review | Rigorous, double-blind peer review by established experts in the field. | Vague, non-existent, or guaranteed “peer review” that is merely a formality for payment. |
| Publication Fees | Follows the established, transparent policies of a state-funded research council. | Often demands high “Article Processing Charges” (APCs) after a quick “acceptance.” |
How to Protect Yourself: Red Flags of Predatory Publishing
The case of Al-Qanṭara is a potent example of a wider problem. Here are universal red flags to watch for when evaluating a journal:
- Unsolicited Emails: Be wary of emails that praise your work and invite you to submit to a journal you’ve never heard of.
- Suspicious Domain Names: Look for slight misspellings, the use of hyphens, or commercial domains (like .com or .org) for journals that should be on an academic (.edu) or institutional (.csic.es) server.
- Promises of Rapid Publication: Legitimate peer review takes time. Promises of publication within a few days or weeks are a major warning sign.
- Lack of Transparency: A legitimate journal will have a clear editorial board, a detailed peer-review policy, and transparent information about any publication charges.
- Poor Website Quality: Look for grammatical errors, low-quality images, and broken links on the journal’s website.
Our Call to the Academic Community
The integrity of our collective scholarly record is under threat. We urge all researchers, especially those in Islamic Studies, History, and related fields, to exercise extreme caution.
- Verify Before You Submit: Always double-check a journal’s authenticity. The primary source is the best source: go directly to the publisher’s main website (in this case, CSIC).
- Share This Information: Inform your colleagues, students, and librarians. The more people who are aware of these clones, the less power they have. Awareness is our best defense.
- Trust the Official Source: For any business with Al-Qanṭara, use only the official website: https://al-qantara.revistas.csic.es/. Bookmark it for future reference.
By remaining vigilant, we can protect our work and uphold the standards of academic excellence that the real Al-Qanṭara has championed for decades.