Publishing and Collaboration Guidelines
About AlNaqid
This platform is not concerned with chasing events, but with unpacking them. It does not lean toward fleeting commentary, but toward the question that endures. At its core, it is a space for reflecting on the Middle East as a complex landscape, where identities coexist and sometimes collide: Arabs, Persians, Turks, Kurds, and the many other components of this region, regardless of whether they stand as majorities or minorities.
The platform opens its doors to all these voices, without discrimination or exclusion. In doing so, it wagers on a calm and thoughtful conversation — one that distances itself from polarization and moves closer to the essence of issues, where ideas are presented clearly and discussed responsibly.
Publishing in Al-Naqid is not a paid endeavor, but a contribution to enriching the public sphere. Whoever writes does so out of a desire to add value, not to seek return. Previously published pieces may also be republished, provided the rights remain with the author and the material has not lost its relevance to current realities.
Publishing Standards
Writing in this space is free, but not chaotic. Certain boundaries preserve the integrity of discussion:
Rejecting Hate and Incitement
Content that provokes hostility toward or demeans any group, regardless of affiliation, will not be accepted. Likewise, inaccurate information, advocacy of violence, or reliance on baseless conspiracy theories is rejected.
Protecting Human Dignity
There is no room for defamation or for invading private lives in ways that harm reputations. Criticism of public figures must rest on documented facts, not speculation.
Respecting the Ethical Context
Writers are expected to remain aware of the environment they address, balancing freedom of expression with respect for public values, without manufacturing conflict or resorting to oversimplification.
Rejecting the Justification of Abuses
Material that justifies oppression or overlooks human rights violations — regardless of the perpetrator — will not be published.
Preventing Concealed Commercial Promotion
Submissions that use articles as vehicles for advertising or unprofessional promotion will be declined.
Distinguishing Political Critique from Religious Targeting
Political and intellectual criticism is legitimate, including criticism of states and ideological movements, provided it does not devolve into religious offense or broad generalizations against followers of any faith.
Avoiding Extreme Comparisons
Writers are encouraged to avoid excessive or inflammatory analogies that weaken meaning more than they clarify it, unless their use is carefully justified.
Final Note
The editorial team reserves the right to review submissions before publication, or to decline material that does not align with these standards, in order to preserve the quality of content and maintain a space for dialogue grounded in seriousness and respect.