Guide for Authors

Journal of Islamic and International Studies of Human Rights and Democracy

(IHRD)

Affiliated with UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Peace and Democracy

Shahid Beheshti University

1. 1. Introduction and Submission Principles

The Journal welcomes original, unpublished, and rigorously researched manuscripts in the fields of Islamic law, comparative law, international human rights law, humanitarian law, environmental law, political theory, and related multidisciplinary approaches which you see in Amis and Scope.

Submissions must not be under consideration elsewhere simultaneously.

The journal practices double-blind peer review (unless otherwise specified).

The Journal emphasizes quality over quantity, striving for high standards in both argumentation and presentation (style, citations, clarity), However, for the purpose of determining the standard of volume and uniformity of the order of the entire text of the article with references and footnotes, the length of the article should be between 5000 and 7000 words.

The Journal takes plagiarism seriously. Detected misconduct leads to rejection, withdrawal, or other sanctions in accordance with Iranian law on academic integrity. (See “IHRD Policy Toward Plagiarism” on journal site: ihrd.sbu.ac.ir)

2. 2. Manuscript Format and Structure

2.1. General Layout

Use Times New Roman (or equivalent serif font), typically 12-pt for body text, 1.5 line spacing.

Use margins of at least 2.5 cm on all sides.

Number pages consecutively (bottom or top, center or right).

Use section headings (see below) and subheadings for clarity; maintain consistent hierarchy and style.

Use footnotes (not endnotes) for references and substantive commentary.

The manuscript should be submitted in a single file (e.g. Word / DOCX) for review; after acceptance, a typeset version (PDF) may be requested.

2.2. Title Page

The title page (separate from the blinded manuscript) should include:

Title of the Article (centered, bold, non-italic, e.g. 14 pt)

Full name(s) of author(s), Institutional affiliation(s), Corresponding author and contact email,

Acknowledgments (if any)

A statement confirming originality, no prior publication, and no concurrent submission elsewhere

2.3. Abstract, Keywords, and JEL / Subject Codes

An abstract of no more than 250–300 words; do not include references or citations in the abstract.

Keywords: 5 to 7 relevant key terms (in alphabetical order).

Optionally, subject classification codes (e.g. JEL codes, or field codes in human rights, ethics, Islamic studies) if your discipline uses them.

2.4. Main Text Structure

While structure may vary by discipline, a typical empirical or doctrinal article might follow:

Introduction (set out research question, significance, contribution, structure)

Literature Review / Theoretical Framework

Methodology or Approach (for empirical, comparative, or doctrinal analysis)

Argument / Discussion Sections (with logically ordered headings and subheadings)

Case Studies / Examples (if relevant)

Conclusion (summary, implications, suggestions for further research)

Declaration of Conflict of Interest (if required)

Funding Statement (if applicable)

Appendices (if needed)

References

2.5. Tables, Figures, and Equations

Place tables and figures in the text at or near the point of first citation.

Use editable formats (not images) so that editors can adjust layout if needed.

Each table or figure must have a caption / title and, where necessary, explanatory notes or legends.

If statistical data, include measures of variation (standard deviation, error margins), sample sizes, etc.

Equations should be numbered (e.g. (1), (2)) and referenced by number in text.

3. 3. Citation Style and References

3.1. Governing Style Authoritie.

For general scholarly style (punctuation, capitalization, headings, nonlegal references), the Chicago Manual of Style (18th ed.) is the default reference.

3.2. Footnote / Notes Format

Use superscript numbers in the text to indicate a footnote.

In footnotes, full citation of books, articles, cases, statutes, reports, etc., should be given on first mention; thereafter, a short form may be used (e.g. author last name, short title, page).

Use “Id.” or “Id. at [page]” only when the prior footnote refers to the same source and there is no intervening citation.

String citations should be separated by semicolons. Example: Smith, Human Rights in Islam, 123; Doe, Rights and Duties, 45–46.

3.3. Sample Citation Formats

Book:

Doe, John, Human Rights and Islamic Jurisprudence, Tehran, Justice Press, 2020, p. 4.

Chapter / Essay in Edited Volume:

Smith, John, “Justice and Law in Theory,” in Ethics and Rights in the Muslim World, ed. Ali Rahman and Sarah Lee, Cairo, Scholars Press, 2018, p. 45.

Journal Article:

Johnson, Mary, “Democracy and Rights in Plural Societies,” International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 28, no. 2, 2022, p. 228.

Case / Court Decision:

European Court of Human Rights (ECHR): Zarb Adami v. Malta, 2006.

Statute / Treaty:

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966.

Internet / Online Sources:

Herre, Bastian; and Pablo Arriagada (2016) - “Human Rights” Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/human-rights'  (accessed [10/15/2025]).

3.4. Reference List / Bibliography

At the end of the article, supply a full reference list or bibliography, organized alphabetically by authors’ last names.

Use hanging indent style (the first line flush left, subsequent lines indented).

The style for items in the reference list should mirror the full citation forms used in footnotes (minus pinpoint page).

Example:

Doe, John, Human Rights and Islamic Jurisprudence, Tehran, Justice Press, 2020.

Johnson, Mary, “Democracy and Rights in Plural Societies,” International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 28, no. 2, 2022.

4. 4. Language, Style, and Usage

Write in clear, precise, and formal academic English.

Avoid excessive jargon; define key terms when first used.

Use single quotation marks for quotes within quotes; double quotation marks for primary quotes (or follow Chicago conventions).

Abbreviations (e.g. “e.g.,” “i.e.”) should be lowercase, not italicized, followed by a comma (per Chicago style)

Use italics for emphasis, book and journal titles, names of foreign terms (except commonly anglicized ones).

5. 5. Revision, Peer Review, and Proofs

After submission, the Editor-in-Chief or Associate Editors perform a preliminary editorial screening for fit, originality, and basic quality.

Suitable manuscripts are sent to at least two peer reviewers (double-blind).

Reviewers’ reports are shared with authors (anonymously) along with editorial decision (accept, revise, reject).

Authors must respond point-by-point to reviewer comments in a separate response letter, indicating how they have addressed each point (or justify why not).

Once accepted, a proof version (PDF) will be sent to authors for final corrections. Authors should check carefully (typographical errors, formatting, reference accuracy). Substantive revisions at this stage should be minimal.

6. 6. Ethical Considerations and Disclosures

Authors must disclose any conflict of interest.

If the research involves human subjects, interviews, surveys, or other ethical concerns, include an ethics statement indicating approvals (e.g. institutional review board) or consent obtained.

Authors must cite all sources properly; failure to do so may be treated as plagiarism.

Authors should avoid duplicate publication or “salami slicing” (publishing multiple similar papers with overlapping data).

Published articles are released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0).

Structured Summary – Complete Tables

Journal of Islamic and International Studies of Human Rights and Democracy (IHRD)
Affiliated with UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Peace and Democracy 

Shahid Beheshti University

Table 1 – General Information

Section	Description
Scope	Islamic law, comparative law, international human rights law, humanitarian law, environmental law, political theory, and interdisciplinary fields.
Peer Review	Double-blind.
Originality	Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
Language	Academic English
Word Count	5,000–7,000 words.

 

Table 2 – Manuscript Format

Element	Requirement
Font	Times New Roman, 12 pt, 1.5 line spacing.
Margins	At least 2.5 cm on all sides.
Pagination	Continuous numbering (bottom or top, center or right).
Footnotes	Use footnotes (not endnotes) for citations and comments.
File Format	Submit as one single .docx file.
Title Page	Includes title, author(s), affiliation(s), corresponding author email, acknowledgments, originality statement.

 

Table 3 – Article Structure

Section	Key Elements
Abstract	250–300 words, no references or citations.
Keywords	5–7 terms, alphabetical order.
Introduction	Research question, significance, contribution, and structure.
Literature Review / Theoretical Framework	Review and synthesis of prior work.
Methodology / Approach	Empirical, comparative, or doctrinal methods.
Discussion / Argument	Logical development and analysis.
Case Studies	Optional, if relevant.
Conclusion	Summary, implications, and future research.
Acknowledgments	Optional.
Conflict of Interest & Funding	Mandatory if applicable.
References / Bibliography	Required.

 

Table 4 – Tables, Figures, and Equations

Item	Specification
Placement	Insert near first mention in text.
Format	Editable, not images.
Captions	Each with title and notes if needed.
Equations	Numbered (1), (2)… and referenced in text.

 

Table 5 – Citation and Reference Style

Element	Rule
General Style	Chicago Manual of Style (18th ed.) for scholarly format.
Legal Sources	Use Bluebook conventions where appropriate.
Footnote Style	Full citation on first use; short form thereafter.
“Id.” Usage	Only when consecutive citations are from the same source.
String Citations	Separate with semicolons.

 

Table 6 – Sample Citation Formats

Type	Example
Book	Doe, John, Human Rights and Islamic Jurisprudence, Tehran, Justice Press, 2020, p. 4.
Edited Volume Chapter	Smith, John, “Justice and Law in Theory,” in Ethics and Rights in the Muslim World, ed. Ali Rahman and Sarah Lee, Cairo, Scholars Press, 2018, p. 45.
Journal Article	Johnson, Mary, “Democracy and Rights in Plural Societies,” International Journal of Human Rights, Vol. 28, no. 2, 2022, p. 228.
Case / Court Decision	European Court of Human Rights (ECHR): Zarb Adami v. Malta, 2006.
Statute / Treaty	International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966.
Internet / Online Sources	Herre, Bastian; and Pablo Arriagada (2016) - “Human Rights” Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/human-rights'  (accessed [10/15/2025]).

 

Table 7 – Style and Language Guidelines

Category	Guidance
Tone	Clear, formal, and academic.
Voice	Prefer active voice.
Quotations	Double for main quotes, single for quotes within quotes.
Italics	Use for book/journal titles and foreign terms.
Numbers	Spell out numbers below 10; use digits for 10 and above.
Transliteration	Follow consistent system (ISO 233, ALA-LC, etc.).
Language Neutrality	Avoid bias or discriminatory terms.

 

Table 8 – Peer Review and Revision Process

Stage	Description
Editorial Screening	Initial check for fit, originality, and quality.
Peer Review	Two anonymous reviewers (double-blind).
Author Response	Point-by-point reply to reviewer comments.
Proof Stage	PDF proof sent for minor corrections only.
Final Approval	Editor ensures consistency and layout formatting.

 

Table 9 – Ethical and Legal Considerations

Requirement	Detail
Conflict of Interest	Must be disclosed (financial, personal, institutional).
Ethics Statement	Required if human subjects or data collection involved.
Plagiarism	Strictly prohibited; checked by journal system.
Duplicate Publication	Not permitted (‘salami slicing’ discouraged).
License	Open Access, CC BY 4.0 International.