a media blackout. Journalists, especially foreigners, are banned from the region. Those who dare to venture there without permission are arrested and turned away. This is the case of the correspondents of several French, English and American media. Moroccan newspapers, whatever their political colour, are content to reproduce the information blown to them by the authorities and to publish editorials on command crying conspiracy. Publications that deviate from the official script are automatically censored. The events escalated quickly, and weapons started to be used by both the protesters and the army. The uprising was fiercely oppressed by the army, even using aircraft flown by French pilots. Hundreds were killed and thousands were arrested and wounded. Abd El-Karim estimated the number of detainees in the wake of the Rif uprising at 8,420. Aftermath The Moroccan army lost about a thousand men, while 3,000 Riffian rebels were killed and 8,420 were captured. After the end of the uprising, the Rif was subjected to military rule for several years. This, along with the diversion of much of the region's arable land for cannabis planting, has decimated the local economy and environment. As a result, many left the Rif for Europe, returning to their ancestral towns only to build homes that they lived in during vacations or after retirement. See also Hirak Rif References External links Documentary on Sellam Amezian (in Arabic and Berber). 1958 in Morocco 1958 protests 1959 in Morocco 1959 protests Berber history Berber separatism in North Africa Rebellions in Morocco Demonstrations Protests in Morocco Rif 20th-century revolutions History of Morocco