[Precturge]

So what if the sharia understanding of the locals differs from that of those that hold the guns? Are acceptable differences allowed or are they imposing one groups view of islam on the rest.

What kind of differences in "Shari'ah understanding" are you talking about?

One thing is legitimate madhahib differences (which I don't think an imarah/khilafah would have any interest in digging in), another is having two opinions about clear-cut elements of Shari'ah (be it hudud or what else), which is not allowed.