Not much information is available, but Updike scholars have kindred spirits in Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

Asad Al-Ghalith (The University of Tabuk, Saudi Arabia) and Mahmoud Zaidan (The University of Jordan) will present a paper on “John Updike’s Treatment of Islam in The Coup” at The Clute Institute International Academic Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 5-8, 2014. Here is the abstract.

In 2009, Ziadan wrote his Master’s thesis on “The Image of Islam in John Updike’s Terrorist and The Coup.”

more information is available.