Doctor Wanted by FBI Nearly 30 Years After Philly Hospital Assault

Authorities say Zahidul Islam drugged and sexually assaulted a patient at a Philadelphia hospital in 1996.

Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The FBI is asking for the public's help in a decades-old case involving a doctor accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a female patient at a Philadelphia hospital in 1996. Authorities say they believe that while practicing medicine at that hospital, Zahidul Islam gave a patient some medication to make her groggy and then he forcibly raped her. A federal warrant was issued for his arrest in the summer of 1997, and he is facing charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of holding medical professionals accountable for abusing their positions of trust and power. The alleged assault occurred over 25 years ago, but the FBI is still actively seeking to bring the suspect to justice, underscoring the gravity of the crime and the need for victims to have faith in the legal system.

The details

According to investigators, the alleged assault occurred on October 3rd, 1996, while Zahidul Islam was practicing medicine at a major Philadelphia hospital. Authorities say they believe that while practicing medicine at that hospital, Islam gave a patient some medication to make her groggy and then he forcibly raped her. The victim was recovering from surgery when she was allegedly assaulted in her hospital room.

  • The alleged assault occurred on October 3rd, 1996.
  • A federal warrant was issued for Islam's arrest in the summer of 1997.

The players

Zahidul Islam

A doctor accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a patient at a Philadelphia hospital in 1996. He is wanted by the FBI and is facing charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The FBI says Islam has ties to New York state and Montreal, and he may be traveling with his wife, who is also a physician. The public is asked to contact the FBI's Philadelphia Field Office at (215) 418-4000 with any information concerning Islam's whereabouts.

The takeaway

This case serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of holding medical professionals accountable for abusing their positions of trust and power. The FBI's continued pursuit of this decades-old case underscores the gravity of the alleged crime and the need for victims to have faith in the legal system, even in the face of long delays in seeking justice.