Withdrawal Policy

The Study of Religion and History adheres to a clear and transparent withdrawal policy to ensure that authors have the ability to withdraw their manuscripts under certain circumstances, while also maintaining the integrity of the review and publication process.

Key Features of the Withdrawal Policy:

1. Manuscript Withdrawal Before Acceptance:

   • Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any time before it has been formally accepted for publication. If the manuscript is in the review process, the author must notify the editorial team immediately and provide a brief explanation for the withdrawal.

   • Once the manuscript has been submitted for peer review, authors are expected to respect the time and effort of the reviewers. However, if withdrawal is necessary, the author may do so without penalty.

2. Manuscript Withdrawal After Acceptance:

   • Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication and has entered the production stage (e.g., copyediting or typesetting), withdrawal requests will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

   • In cases of withdrawal after acceptance, the author must provide a clear and compelling reason for withdrawing the article. The journal will evaluate the request on a case-by-case basis.

   • Authors may be required to cover any administrative costs incurred due to the processing of their manuscript.

3. Manuscript Withdrawal During the Review Process:

   • If an author wishes to withdraw a manuscript during the peer review process, they must promptly notify the journal’s editorial team. The reason for withdrawal should be provided, and the editorial team will acknowledge the withdrawal request.

   • If the withdrawal is requested after the manuscript has been sent out for review, the author is encouraged to inform the reviewers (if possible) of the decision, especially if the review process is far along.

4. Manuscript Withdrawal Due to Ethical Issues or Misconduct:

   • If ethical issues or misconduct (such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or violations of authorship guidelines) are discovered after submission or acceptance, the manuscript will be withdrawn immediately from consideration or publication.

   • Authors are expected to disclose any potential conflicts of interest, ethical issues, or violations at the time of submission. Failure to disclose relevant issues can result in the withdrawal of the article.

5. Procedure for Manuscript Withdrawal:

   • Authors wishing to withdraw their manuscript must send an official withdrawal request via email to the journal’s editorial office. The request should include:

     • The title of the manuscript.

     • The manuscript ID (if available).

     • A brief explanation for the withdrawal.

   • Upon receipt of the request, the editorial team will confirm the withdrawal and update the manuscript status in the journal’s system.

6. Consequences of Withdrawal:

   • Manuscripts that are withdrawn by the author will not be considered for publication again unless the author submits a revised version for reconsideration.

   • If a manuscript is withdrawn after peer review or production has begun, the journal may retain a record of the article’s submission for reference but will not proceed with publication.

7. Withdrawal Due to Journal Error:

   • In rare cases where an article is mistakenly processed for publication or undergoes review without appropriate procedures (e.g., missing reviewer feedback or submission issues), the journal may withdraw the article and work with the author to resolve the situation.

8. Notifications and Timeliness:

   • Authors are encouraged to inform the editorial office as soon as they decide to withdraw their manuscript to avoid unnecessary delays for both the authors and the journal’s editorial staff.

   • Acknowledgment of withdrawal requests will be provided in a timely manner, and the manuscript’s status will be updated accordingly.