AVIGNON, France - A mother on trial in southern France has defended herself for dressing her 3-year-old son in a t-shirt reading "I am a bomb" and "Born on September 11."

Bouchra Bagour, 35, is on trial in Avignon on charges of defending terrorism after sending her boy, named Jihad, to school wearing the T-shirt.

A ruling in the case is expected on April 10th.

On Wednesday Bagour told the court she admitted the move was "tactless" but insisted it was not meant as a provocation.

She said she simply wanted to make note of her son's birthday on September 11th and did not intend to reference the 9/11 attacks in the United States in 2001.

'Never trying to defend a cause'

Her brother Zeyad Bagour, who is also facing charges for having bought Jihad the t-shirt, told the court "We were never trying to claim responsibility for this thing or defend a cause".

Prosecutors said there was no doubt at the meaning of the t-shirt.

"Who can claim that this is not a direct and scandalous reference to terrorism?" prosecutor Olivier Couvignon told the court.

The two face up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to €45,000 each.