Sourani said Islamic groups also subvert their commitment to human rights to political goals.
"The Islamic movement at large deals with human rights selectively," he said.
He drew praise from his audience for holding both Israelis and Palestinians to the same human rights standard and not allowing politics to cloud his commitment to human rights.
"His work is very worthwhile," said Beatrice St. Laurent, a Harvard Ph.D who lived in the West Bank for many years. "He hasn't compromised."
"He made a very strong point, that Israel employs human rights doctrine selectively for its political purposes," said Charles L. Wilkins, a non-resident tutor in Adams House.
Sourani's visit was co-sponsored by the Boston Coalition on the Middle East and Grassroots International, a not-for-profit organization based in Boston.