As the world’s attention continues to focus on Syria, another uprising against is taking place on a small island linked by a causeway to the Arabian Peninsula.

The uprising we write about is the forgotten one which is taking place in Bahrain. When Arab Spring fever was at its height, the uprising in Bahrain was given much prominence, as its people protested along with those in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.

But then the Saudi tanks rolled into the tiny island kingdom, and all was forgotten. Coverage of the uprising ceased and it was almost as if it had never happened. Of course, the tiny island kingdom is a staunch ally of both Saudi Arabia and the United States, which bases its 5th fleet there. This, of course, explains why the Arab league seems to ignore the issue, and it also explains the deafening silence at the White House.

At least 50 people have been killed since the protests began last year. Reports of beatings and torture have been widespread, but it seems that the internet campaigns which worked so well in other Arab Spring countries has not worked for the Bahraini people. Websites showing footage of crackdowns and pictures of those tortured are numerous, yet no one seems to want to acknowledge the fact that this is happening.

Bahrain’s people are mostly Shiite Muslims, but the ruling class is Sunni. A recent wave of protests was greeted with arrests, raids and beatings by the security forces. Yet the people keep turning up. The protests are again gathering momentum and last week, protestors again descended on Manama’s Pearl Square. The police fired tear gas at them, and more.

In the local context, Bahrain might seem a million miles away. But how can we, as a people, ignore what Bahrainis are going through when we felt, saw and smelled the carnage which was wrought on the people of Libya?

The world needs to sit up, take stock of the situation and re-examine its priorities. One simply cannot find a valid reason why the world backed the people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, yet ignores the plight of the Bahrainis.

Behind the red velvet curtain of the stage that is world politics, a murky backroom exists. What we see and what makes it to the news is merely the tip of the iceberg, and one has to wonder what is going on to prevent anyone from championing this cause. Perhaps Saudi Arabia has flexed its OPEC muscles and told everyone to mind their own business. Let’s face it, all it would take would be a threat to scale down production of crude oil and the dog would obey its master.

As we have already stated, perhaps the 5th Fleet base is too rich a prize to give up – all for a few Bahrainis who are being tortured and murdered. Just like the addict who will do anything to get his next fix, the world has turned the other way as a bloody crackdown takes place. Addiction is never healthy. But addiction to oil is the world’s biggest plague.