Post-Islamic conquest, Sharia law or many aspects of Sharia have always existed in ALL moslem countries in the ME & N. Africa (regardless of European colonisation). As you say, Sharia never went away.
Sharia often mostly affects women and their rights.
It also existed in Iran during the late Shah’s (semi-secular) rule. In Iran, during the Pahlavis just before the Islamic 1979 revolution, polygamy, for instance, was allowed, but conditions were attached to it, i.e. if a married woman could not have children, then her husband was allowed to officially marry another woman while staying married to the first wife. But, what if it was the man who couldn’t get his wife pregnant? Could she do the same? Of course not! Most Westerners don’t realize this & generalize about Sharia. Ultimately, it is a matter of *degrees* in implementing Sharia.
Equally & when needed, often, both the so-called ‘secularist’ moslem leaders, as well as Islamics use religion as a crutch in moslem countries, to keep their people in line. Moslem leaders (moderate or radical) do find the enforcement of Islamic laws & values expedient, but then the moslem population, largely, accepts them or in some cases actually demands them.
Here is the latest on Libya and the first ‘free’ elections in Tunisia, where the Islamic party is heading for a win. 90% of the people voted and they voted for an Islamic party.
The ‘democracy’ they want is to implement sharia, the law of allah. That’s wahhabe islam.
The infidel must leave their countries. Libya is in ruins. The foreign workers who did not escape have been slaughtered.
Two wolves and a sheep voting on who is for supper.