The Wustho Journal: Islamic Communication strongly upholds the integrity of the scholarly record and the publication process. Therefore, article withdrawal is only permitted under truly exceptional circumstances and with compelling reasons. Once a manuscript has been submitted, authors are expected not to withdraw it from the review process, unless there is a fatal and uncorrectable error. Withdrawing a manuscript after acceptance for publication or during the peer review stage can cause significant disruption to the editorial workflow and review process, as well as waste valuable time and resources of the reviewers. We strongly encourage authors to ensure the originality, completeness, and readiness of their manuscripts thoroughly before submission.
Should an author deem it necessary to withdraw a manuscript, they must immediately contact the Editor-in-Chief or Journal Secretariat in writing, providing a detailed explanation for the withdrawal request. This request will be carefully evaluated by the editorial team. It is crucial to understand that withdrawal will not be permitted once the manuscript has been published online, whether in early view format or in a final issue. In the extremely rare event that a serious error or ethical violation is detected after publication (e.g., previously undetected plagiarism, data manipulation, or redundant publication), the article will be subject to retraction. Retraction is a more formal and serious step, and a clear retraction notice will be published to inform readers and the scholarly community.
As a form of compensation for the time and resources already invested, an administrative fee may be charged for article withdrawals that occur after the manuscript has passed the initial peer review stage or after the typesetting process has begun. Wustho Journal: Islamic Communication is committed to supporting strict and transparent publication ethics practices. This article withdrawal policy is designed to ensure that the scholarly record remains accurate and reliable, and that the integrity of the editorial process is respected. Authors should fully understand this policy before submitting their manuscripts for consideration.
