Question

Which explains why Ottoman leaders began a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire?

Responses
They argued that Armenians were spreading anti-Turk propaganda among the Ottoman population.
They claimed that Armenians were trying to establish their own state within the Ottoman Empire.
They asserted that Armenians were trying to forcibly convert Turks to Islam.
They feared that Armenians were supporting Russia, an Ottoman enemy in World War I.

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

All of the options mentioned in the responses played a role in the Ottoman leaders' decision to begin a policy of deportation and extermination of Armenians within their empire. It is important to note that these reasons were often cited by the Ottoman authorities to justify their actions, but they have been widely criticized by scholars as being exaggerated or unfounded. The Ottoman leaders accused Armenians of spreading anti-Turk propaganda, trying to establish their own state within the empire, and forcibly converting Turks to Islam as a means to justify their persecution. In addition, the fear that Armenians were supporting Russia, a major enemy of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, further fueled their decision to target the Armenian population.