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Cecile

Cecile in Series 8

Cecile Tsibi was the mother of Lula Tsibi, and the sister-in-law of Lionel Tsibi.

She is described by Lula as a strict woman, but one who is funny as well, always laughing and making the best out of bad situations.

Prior to Series 8, Mr Tsibi - Lula's father and Cecile's husband - had fallen gravely ill during the summer. Fearful for his life, Lula called an ambulance. However, the hospital found out that Mr Tsibi was staying in the country illegally, and he was subsequently deported back to Kinshasa. Cecile was distraught over the loss of her husband, causing her to be sick from grief and blaming her daughter for what happened - leaving her brother-in-law, Lionel Tsibi, to care for Lula.

However, he had sinister intentions, believing that Satan was present in Lula, and took her for an exorcism. Lula's teacher Tom Clarkson informed Cecile in a race against time to save the girl. Cecile refused to believe it at first, stating that Lula constantly made up stories about her uncle, deeming Lionel a good man, who took care and provided for them, but when Tom told her that Lionel took her to Pastor Adoula, a conman, she was enraged, and rushed to save her daughter and disowned her brother-in-law for his actions.

The day that Lula gets accepted into Strathclyde University, Cecile appears at the school gates and discloses information to Lula, urging her to leave school and come home with her, but Lula refuses and storms off. It then emerges that Lula and her family are being deported back to Kinshasa. Although Cecile had appealed for asylum, the judge had refused, stating that Cecile had changed her reason to stay in Scotland. Harley enlists the aid of teacher Audrey McFall to help the Tsibis.

One morning, immigration officers arrive at the Tsibis' door. Cecile quickly ushers Lula out of the house through a window and pleads with her to run away, as they cannot be deported if they are split up. Cecile is arrested and taken to a detention centre. After many attempts to delay the deportation, including Shaznay Montrose claiming to be the deportee, Lula eventually comes forward and is reunited with her mother. Lula tells her mother that even though she tried to run away like she said, it wouldn't solve anything, and that wherever they end up, they should face things together.

Two episodes later, Lula video calls Audrey and Harley to let them know that she and her mother are safe and well, living in Kinshasa with relatives. Lula's case is similar to that of Series 3 character Sameen Azizi when she was deported back to Iran following a protest against immigration officers.

List of appearances[]

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